What happened
On 08 May 2018, an Aquila AT01, registration D-ERLM, departed Troyes aerodrome for a cross-country VFR flight. The aircraft was part of a larger group of ten planes traveling from Germany to visit Airbus facilities in France. After flying at flight level 6/5, the pilot descended to 2,500 ft near Guéret. At approximately 14:55, the pilot contacted Toulouse FIS to announce an intended arrival at Albi. The final radio contact occurred one minute later.
The aircraft subsequently struck trees in a wooded area approximately 15 NM from Albi. The impact occurred while the engine was operating, with the aircraft in a high left bank angle during descent. The aircraft traveled roughly 40 meters through the forest before coming to rest on its back. A post-impact fire destroyed nearly the entire airframe. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and the flight controls, finding that the controls remained functional through the moment of impact. Investigators reviewed meteorological data and witness accounts from the site. Witnesses reported low cloud ceilings clinging to the hills and drizzling rain. Other pilots in the same group provided context, noting that while some chose to land at Troyes to avoid deteriorating weather, others faced similar low visibility and were forced to divert.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered adverse meteorological conditions, specifically low cloud layers and reduced visibility due to terrain-clinging clouds.
- The pilot likely descended to fly beneath the cloud layer in an area characterized by high ground.
- The pilot was flying under VFR rules but did not possess an IR rating.
- The investigation highlighted the increased risk of accidents as pilots approach their destination while facing deteriorating weather.