Piper PA28 accident near Berghaus Diavolezza, Ch, August 4, 2017
On August 4, 2017 at about 7:20 am local time, a Piper PA28, registered HBPER, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Berghaus Diavolezza. 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
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
- August 4, 2017 · about 7:20 am local time
- Place
- Berghaus Diavolezza, Switzerland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 181 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- HBPER · no longer on the register · serial 28-8090221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 4, 2017, at 0720 UTC, a Piper PA-28-181, Swiss registration HB-PER, owned and operated by a private individual, impacted mountainous terrain near Berghaus Diavolezza, Switzerland. The pilot and two passengers on board were fatally injured. A third passenger received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The foreign, non-scheduled local flight departed Samedan, Switzerland, about 0710 UTC.This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Switzerland. Any further information regarding the investigation can be obtained from the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board at: Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board Aviation Division Aeropole 1, Route de Morens, 1530 Payerne Switzerland Telephone: +41 26 662 33 33 Facsimile: +41 26 662 33 01 E-mail: info@sust.admin.ch This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the STSB of 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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- 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 | 2 | 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.
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.