Piper PA-31 accident near Cottens, Ch, November 10, 2011
On November 10, 2011 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-31, registered HBLOT, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Cottens. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
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 the Swiss Accident Investigation Board. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Swiss Accident Investigation Board SAIB Aéropôle 1, Route de Morens CH-1530 Payerne Switzerland
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2011 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cottens, Switzerland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31 · all PA-31s on the register
- Registration
- HBLOT · no longer on the register · serial 31-7400981
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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 the Swiss Accident Investigation Board. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Swiss Accident Investigation Board SAIB Aéropôle 1, Route de Morens CH-1530 Payerne 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Other authority investigated
Crew member
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,991.3 hours
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Textron Lycoming TIO-540-A2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Textron Lycoming TIO-540-A2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ecuvillens
- Destination: Geneva
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 2 knots
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from LSZB
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.