What happened
On May 15, 2019, a Tecnam P2008-JC, registration YR-COV, departed from Ghimbav aerodrome in Brașov County for a private flight to Costinești. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. While initial meteorological conditions at the departure point were favorable for VFR flight, weather conditions deteriorated as the aircraft entered the mountain region.
As the aircraft approached the mountains, the cloud ceiling decreased significantly. GPS data indicates that during the final segment of the flight, the aircraft experienced fluctuations in altitude and heading. The aircraft eventually executed an abrupt turn toward the south-southwest accompanied by a steep descent. The aircraft struck trees in a wooded area near Nehoiu, Buzău County, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation examined the meteorological conditions, flight data from the onboard GPS, and the pilot's experience and training. Investigators analyzed radar images which showed convective clouds with low ceilings in the vicinity of the accident.
The board also reviewed the transition between different cockpit technologies. While the pilot was trained on a Cessna 172 equipped with analog instruments, the YR-COV featured a modern Garmin G3X digital avionics suite. The investigation focused on how the lack of IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) training and the shift from analog to digital displays may have impacted the pilot's ability to maintain orientation when visual references were lost.
Findings
- The pilot held a valid PPL(A) license but lacked IFR training.
- The pilot had relatively limited flight experience, having received his license only seven months prior to the accident.
- Meteorological conditions in the mountain area provided extremely low visibility, with cloud ceilings potentially at ground level.
- The aircraft was certified for day VFR flight only.
- The pilot experienced spatial disorientation due to the loss of a natural horizon and visual ground references during the period of extreme low visibility.