Dassault Falcon accident near Samedan, Ch, February 12, 2009
On February 12, 2009 at about 3:14 pm local time, a Dassault Falcon, registered VPBAF, was destroyed in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Samedan (Samedan Airport). It was a business flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
This is under the jurisdiction and control of the Swiss government.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2009 · about 3:14 pm local time
- Place
- Samedan, Switzerland · Samedan Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dassault Falcon 100
- Registration
- VPBAF · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 12, 2009, at 1514 coordinated universal time, a Dassault Falcon, Bermuda registered VP-BAF, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while landing at Samedan Airport (LSZS), Samedan, Switzerland. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight crew was fatally injured and the passengers sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Schwechat (LOWW), Austria at 1406. The Swiss investigators reported that the airplane impacted the runway enviornment in a right wing low attitude, drifted to the left and impacted a snow bank adjacent to the runway enviornment. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Swiss government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Swiss government or Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Buro. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau - Switzerland CH - 3003 Berne Switzerland
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Other authority investigated
Crew member
No details recorded.
Crew member
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOWW Schwechat at 2:06 pm
- Destination: LSZS Samedan
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 3:20 pm from LSZA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.