What happened
On 21 January 2019, a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, registration N264DB, disappeared from radar while flying from Nantes, France, to Cardiff, UK. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and one passenger. After the aircraft was lost from radar at approximately 2016 hrs, a large-scale search operation was launched involving assets from the UK, France, and the Channel Islands.
The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). During the final stages of the flight, the pilot requested a descent to maintain visual meteorological conditions. The last radio contact with Jersey Radar occurred at 2012 hrs, when the pilot requested a further descent. Radar data indicates that shortly after 2015 hrs, the aircraft entered a rapid descent, dropping from approximately 1,600 ft to a much lower altitude at a rate of roughly 7,000 ft/min, before the final radar returns were recorded.
The investigation
An underwater survey conducted by the vessel *Geo Ocean III* successfully located the wreckage on the seabed at a depth of approximately 68 metres, roughly 22 nm north-north-west of Guernsey. Remote-operated vehicle (ROV) footage revealed that the aircraft was destroyed, with the fuselage broken into three main sections and the engine disconnected from the cockpit. The wings, tail plane, and fin were also significantly damaged or missing.
During the survey, the ROV identified a body within the wreckage, which was recovered on 6 February 2019. However, the second occupant was not found. The investigation also noted that the pilot's tablet computer, used for navigation, was not recovered from the debris.
Findings
- The aircraft's final descent was characterized by a rapid loss of altitude at an extremely high rate of descent.
- At the time of the accident, the area was experiencing a band of heavy rain showers.
- The wreckage showed extensive structural damage, including the separation of the engine and the breaking of the fuselage.
- The investigation is continuing to analyze radar data and weather conditions to determine the exact circumstances of the impact.