What happened
On June 28, 2014, at approximately 14:30, a Beech 77 Skipper, registration F-GIHJ, departed from the Valenciennes Denain aerodrome for a local flight. The flight was intended to be a discovery flight for a passenger seated in the right seat.
After completing an initial circuit of the aerodrome, the aircraft headed east at an altitude of approximately 1,500 feet. Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft flying in level flight before it began a series of successive left and right rolls. Following these maneuvers, the aircraft entered a steep nose-down attitude. One witness noted that the sound of the engine remained constant and did not cease until the moment of impact. The aircraft subsequently struck a wheat field near Saultain.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the wreckage and the flight sequence. The debris field was concentrated within a small area in a wheat field, with no obstacles identified in the surrounding vicinity. Analysis of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft struck the ground with high energy in a steep nose-down attitude. The engine was found to be producing power at the time of impact, the flaps were symmetrically retracted, and the flight controls were found to be functional. No mechanical malfunctions were identified during the examination of the wreckage.
Meteorological data from the Valenciennes automatic station indicated unstable weather conditions, characterized by medium clouds, cumulus, and light rain, with a wind of 170 degrees at 6 knots.
Findings
- The aircraft likely experienced a stall at a low altitude, leaving the pilot with insufficient height to recover.
- The investigation could not determine the specific cause of the loss of control or the exact nature of the maneuvers performed immediately prior to the stall.