The air accident investigators in Switzerland write in their final report that the crash of the Ju-52 in 2018 was caused, among other things, by a risky maneuver by the pilots. The club that operates the historic machines now wants to improve the selection and training of pilots.

On August 4, 2018, the HB-HOT crashed in the canton of Graubünden. The approximately 80-year-old aircraft was on a sightseeing flight. All occupants were killed in the accident. Now the investigators are criticizing the operator, but also the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. Security problems would have been overlooked and the association did not recognize risks. The report also states that the classic car had various technical defects, but these should not have been the cause of the crash.

The authorities identified a risky pilot maneuver as the main cause of the crash. In the report it is written: “The pilots steered the aircraft at low altitude, with no possibility of an alternative flight path and at a dangerous low speed for these conditions into the narrow valley southwest of Piz Segnas. In this valley, the aircraft flew through turbulence that is always to be expected in the mountains near the terrain. This high-risk flight control meant that the pilots lost control of the aircraft in this not unusual turbulence and that too little space was available to intercept the aircraft. As a result, the plane fell almost vertically to the ground ”.

The Swiss Accident Investigation Board also published a video in which the authorities' findings are presented in an easy-to-understand way:

The operating association was banned from flying in November 2018. A review by the FOCA revealed numerous deficiencies. The restart is targeted for the year 2023. Until then, they want to overtake the other machines and promise that the training and control of the pilots will be improved.

Tip: The official final report of the SAUST can be found under this Link as PDF be downloaded.