Aircraft Destroyed and Two Killed in the Accident

On January 21, a Piper PA-18A-150 Super Cub collided with two tandem paragliders near Méribel-les-Allues, Savoie. The aircraft then plummeted onto the roof of an unoccupied chalet, resulting in the deaths of its two occupants.

The accident occurred at around 4:55 pm. The paragliders were in shock but are currently “out of danger,” according to Albertville public prosecutor Benoît Bachelet. The iconic Super Cub, registered F-BAYP, sustained critical damage.

Authorities identified the victims as two men aged 26 and 58. Initial investigations suggest that the collision with the paragliders occurred just before the crash. Despite the visibility challenges for aircraft in mountainous regions, the exact circumstances leading to the collision remain unclear since weather conditions at the time of the crash were seemingly clear.

Firefighters, medics, and law enforcement dispatched over 45 personnel and 30 vehicles to the scene. Complicating the rescue effort were structural risks posed by a kerosene leak and the weakened roof of the chalet. This issue also hindered efforts to retrieve the victims.

The Super Cub involved in the crash had an extensive legacy and was famously used by aviator Henri Giraud in 1960 to land on Mont Blanc’s summit. Giraud, a revered pilot with over 40,000 flight hours, was celebrated for his contributions to alpine rescue before helicopters became popular.

A judicial inquiry has been launched to uncover the full details of the collision. Meanwhile, a medical-psychological support unit has been established for witnesses and relatives of the victims.

While midair collisions between two relatively slow-flying aircraft aren’t necessarily common, they do highlight the unique challenges of operating in shared airspace without communication. This is especially true in regions like the Alps, where light aircraft like the Super Cub and paragliders often coexist at low altitudes. Visibility also likely played a critical role in the accident due to the well-known visibility issues of the Super Cub along with the potential for both aircraft to blend into the background.

FMI: https://bea.aero/en