Piper PA 28.181 F-GETZ accident at Chasserades, 15 January 2006

Accident overview and flight details On Sunday, 15 January 2006, a Piper PA 28.181 with registration F-GETZ, operated by Aéroclub Vauclusien, was destroyed in a crash at Chasserades (48). The aircraft was on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from Avignon (84) to Mende, where the pilot and one passenger were expected for lunch. The pilot departed Avignon at 09:15 local time. After climbing to 7,700 ft near the Cévennes, the aircraft made two successive half-turns and descended toward Mende. It then turned east, following the Goulet mountain, and impacted at 4,185 ft. ## Casualties and damage The pilot, a 56-year-old male, and one passenger were killed. The aircraft was destroyed. The pilot held a PPL(A) licence issued on 14 October 1986 and a valid SEP(t) class rating. His total experience was 798 hours and 50 minutes, including 623 hours and 50 minutes as pilot-in-command, and 98 hours and 50 minutes on type. His medical certificate was valid until 14 July 2006, with a derogation requiring periodic monitoring; cardiologic control examinations performed two days before the accident were considered satisfactory. ## Aircraft and equipment The aircraft was a Piper PA 28.181, serial number 28.7890085, powered by a Lycoming O-360-A4M carburetted engine. It was equipped with instruments for instrument flight, ADF and VOR/ILS receivers, but had no de-icing system other than carburettor heat and pitot heating. The pilot carried a portable GPS receiver, which was damaged and did not provide usable data. The aircraft was not fitted with a flight recorder, which was not required for this category. ## Meteorological and operational context At the time of the flight, a disturbance was bringing strong east to south-east winds to the Cévennes, with dense low clouds. Météo France later estimated severe icing within the cloud layer between 4,300 and 5,000 ft, severe carburettor icing in descent outside the clouds, and strong turbulence near the terrain. A diagram in the club’s flight preparation room indicated that conditions were favourable for severe carburettor icing. The pilot did not request en-route or destination weather information during radio communications. The Mende AFIS recorded no call from the pilot. ## Site and investigation findings The accident site was on the north-east slope of the Goulet mountain, at 4,185 ft, near a summit of about 5,000 ft. The terrain slope was about 30%. The wreckage was found in a small clearing in a fir forest, resting on its belly with the wings roughly parallel to the ground. No signs of collision with trees were found. The wings and engine remained attached to the fuselage.