Piper PA32 accident near Chambery, Fr, March 7, 2010
On March 7, 2010 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA32, registered HBPQZ, was destroyed in an accident near Chambery. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
This accident is under the jurisdiction and control of the French government.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2010 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chambery, France
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32 301T · all PA32s on the register
- Registration
- HBPQZ · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 7, 2010, at 1430 coordinated universal time, a Piper PA32/301T, Swiss registered HB-PQZ, owned by Neghinn S.A., was destroyed when it impacted terrain under unknown circumstances near Chambéry, France. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Chambéry Airport (LFLB), Chambéry, France, and was en route to Amberieu Airport (LFXA), Amberieu, France. The French investigators reported that the airplane collided with a "mountain crest" during poor weather conditions. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the French government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the French government or the French Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses Zone Sud 200 rue de Paris Aêroport du Bourget 93350 Le Bourget Cedex France
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
Pilot
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Chambery
- Destination: LFXA Amberieu
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from LFLB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.