Piper PA46-500TP accident near Lausanne, Ch, March 8, 2011
On March 8, 2011 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA46-500TP, registered N747AW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lausanne (Lausanne-La Blécherett airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2011 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lausanne, Switzerland · Lausanne-La Blécherett
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA46-500TP · all PA46-500TPs on the register
- Registration
- N747AW · registry record · serial 4697017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 8, 2011, at 1430 coordinated universal time, a Piper PA 46-500TP, N747AW, was substantially damaged while landing at the Lausanne-La Blécherette Airport (LSGL), Lausanne, Switzerland. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The two pilots and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Dijon (LFSD), Switzerland. The Swiss investigators received reports that after touchdown the airplane departed the runway to the left. The front landing gear collapsed during the runway excursion. 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 Accident Investigation Board SAIB. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Swiss Accident Investigation Board SAIB Aéropôle 1, Route de Morens CH-1530 Payerne Switzerland info@sust.admin.ch
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Other authority investigated
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sarl Priv' Air
The flight
- Departed from: LFSD Dijon
- Destination: LSGL Lausanne
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 18
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N747AW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.