Last updated: 16 January 2019
| Status: | Preliminary - official |
| Date: | Saturday 4 August 2018 |
| Time: | 16:56 |
| Type: |  Junkers Ju-52/3mg4e |
| Operator: | Ju-Air |
| Registration: | HB-HOT |
| C/n / msn: | 6595 |
| First flight: | 1939 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 10189 |
| Cycles: | 8783 |
| Engines: | 3 BMW 132A3 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 17 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 20 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 1,2 km (0.8 mls) SW of Piz Segnas ( Switzerland)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 2540 m (8333 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Locarno Air Base (LSMO), Switzerland |
| Dübendorf Air Base (LSMD), Switzerland |
A Junkers Ju-52/3m aircraft, operated by Ju-Air, was destroyed in an accident in a mountainous area in Switzerland. The aircraft crashed into the western slope of Piz Segnas at an elevation of 2540 m. All 17 passengers and three crew members were killed.
The aircraft had departed Locarno, Switzerland, at 16:10 on a flight to it's home base at Dübendorf.
The aircraft flew on a northeasterly course into the basin southwest of Piz Segnas. Towards the north end of the basin, it began a left turn, which developed into a descending spiral trajectory. A short time later, the aircraft collided with the ground almost vertically and at high speed.
Following the crash, all Swiss Junkers Ju-52 aircraft were grounded. Ju-Air was allowed to restart operations on August 17 with the two remaining aircraft of the same type. Since there were no indications of general technical defects at this time, the FOCA had approved the resumption of flight operations in compliance with precautionary measures.
On November 20, the Swiss TSB published an interim report. There was still no evidence that a serious technical problem led to the accident. The investigation of the wreck, however, revealed severe structural damage in the form of cracks and corrosion on the main spar, the supporting element of the aircraft wing, and other parts of the aircraft. This damage was hidden during normal inspections and maintenance and could only be determined from the debris.
Since the two Ju-52 HB-HOP and HB-HOS stationed in Dübendorf correspond in age as well as in hours of operation to the crashed aircraft, the Swiss authorities grounded both aircraft pending inspections.
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» 20min.ch» STSB Preliminary information
Follow-up / safety actions
Operations had been voluntarily suspended after August 4, 2018. The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) allowed operations to be conducted per August 17 since the investigation by the STSB had not yet brought to light any technical problems with the accident aircraft. However, JU-Air first had to comply with the precautionary measures of the FOCA to commence flight operations. First, the FOCA required that, for the time being, a minimum altitude above the legal minimum altitude be maintained. Secondly, JU-Air’s aircraft had to carry a GPS data recorder that records every flight and allows subsequent assessment of the route. Third, the passengers should also remain strapped during the flight and not be able to circulate freely in the aircraft. This also applies to visits to the cockpit during the flight.
Photos
Video, social media
Aircraft history
| date | registration | operator | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct. 1939 | A-702 | Swiss Air Force | |
| 29 July 1985 | HB-HOT | Ju-Air | registered |
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Locarno Air Base to Dübendorf Air Base as the crow flies is 137 km (86 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Locarno Air Base to Dübendorf Air Base as the crow flies is 137 km (86 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
