What happened
On July 12, 2014, a Piper PA2/8R 201T, registration N717ND, was conducting a private flight from Calvi, France, toward Terni, Italy. The flight was part of a larger journey originating in Antwerp, Belgium. The crew consisted of the pilot, an experienced second pilot with instrument qualifications, and one passenger.
During the flight, the pilot contacted Bastia Information to request a climb to 5,000 ft. The air traffic controller, managing several incoming commercial flights, suggested a climb to 4,500 ft instead. The pilot accepted this instruction and began a climb at a rate of approximately 500 ft/min. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered cloud cover. At approximately 12:56 local time, while flying at an altitude of roughly 4,200 ft, the aircraft struck terrain located between Calvi and Bastia. The impact occurred with high energy, and all three fatalities were confirmed.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical failure; at the time of impact, the engine was producing power, the landing gear was retracted and locked, and the flaps were extended. The investigation also reviewed the cockpit avionics, noting the aircraft was equipped with a Garmin G500 system featuring ground proximity warnings, though these warnings were only visual.
Investigators also analyzed the meteorological conditions, which included broken cloud layers with bases around 3,000 ft and visibility that was reduced to near zero at the crash site. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed flight preparation documents, finding that while previous legs of the journey were documented, no specific flight preparation or weather briefing was found for the leg between Calvi and Terni. The investigation also looked into the communications between the pilot and the air traffic controller, as well as the crew dynamics between the pilot and the experienced second pilot.