Piper PA32R accident near Attalens, Fribourg, Ch, April 28, 2012
On April 28, 2012 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA32R, registered HBPGA, was destroyed in an accident near Attalens, Fribourg. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 6 people were killed.
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
- April 28, 2012 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Attalens, Fribourg, Switzerland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32R 301 · all PA32Rs on the register
- Registration
- HBPGA · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 28, 2012, about 1500 universal coordinated time, a Piper PA-32R-301 airplane, HB-PGA, impacted terrain near the village of Tatroz in Attalens, Fribourg, Switzerland. All six persons on-board were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The flight had departed Lausanne (LSGN) at an unknown time and was destined for Bex (LSGB). The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Swiss government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Swiss government. 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during unknown
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LSGN Lausanne
- Destination: LSGB Bex
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.