FlightFinder
Check my flight
1 fatality

2017 Bell 206B Accident in Lissac-et-Mouret (F-GPPH)

Lissac-et-Mouret (46), FR

On March 15, 2017, a BELL 206 B Lieu-dit Le Roumengal, altitude 1 000 pieds. (1) Sauf précision contraire, les heures figurant dans ce rapport sont exprimées en heure locale. (registration F-GPPH) operated by Private was involved in an aviation accident near Lissac-et-Mouret (46), FR. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident resulted either from the pilot's decision to fly at very low altitude at night with difficult visual references, or from his focus on external surveillance to find visual landmarks at the expense of monitoring his instruments, particularly… This summary draws on records from the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA).

Sourcesthe French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA)Primary reportUpdated 2026-10-18Data APIEditorial standards

A Bell 206B helicopter, registration F-GPPH, crashed on March 15, 2017, in Lissac-et-Mouret, France, during a night VFR flight. The pilot was killed, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Flight Details and Accident Sequence On March 15, 2017, a Bell 206B helicopter, registration F-GPPH, was involved in a fatal accident in the commune of Lissac-et-Mouret, France. The flight was a private, general aviation, night VFR trip. The pilot, a 52-year-old male, departed from a private helipad at 14:20 for a business trip, making a stop at Poitiers before arriving at his initial destination at 16:20. He later changed his plans and departed at 18:20 for Figeac. The flight was conducted without a flight plan. The pilot contacted Limoges Flight Information Service at 18:45, stating he held a night rating. He was assigned transponder code 7030 and a QNH of 1,026 hPa. At 19:28, he informed Limoges he was approaching Brive at 3,200 feet. The helicopter struck ground obstacles at high speed near the pilot's home and private helipad. The pilot was killed, and the helicopter was destroyed.

Probable cause

The accident resulted either from the pilot's decision to fly at very low altitude at night with difficult visual references, or from his focus on external surveillance to find visual landmarks at the expense of monitoring his instruments, particularly altitude, while approaching his home and landing area.
Controlled flight into terrain

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 15 Mar 2017 BELL 206 B Lieu-dit Le Roumengal, altitude 1 000 pieds. (1) Sauf précision contraire, les heures figurant dans ce rapport sont exprimées en heure locale. accident near Lissac-et-Mouret (46), FR?

A Bell 206B helicopter, registration F-GPPH, crashed on March 15, 2017, in Lissac-et-Mouret, France, during a night VFR flight. The pilot was killed, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Were there any fatalities in the 15 Mar 2017 BELL 206 B Lieu-dit Le Roumengal, altitude 1 000 pieds. (1) Sauf précision contraire, les heures figurant dans ce rapport sont exprimées en heure locale. accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 15 Mar 2017 involved a BELL 206 B Lieu-dit Le Roumengal, altitude 1 000 pieds. (1) Sauf précision contraire, les heures figurant dans ce rapport sont exprimées en heure locale., registration F-GPPH, operated by Private, at Lissac-et-Mouret (46), FR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident resulted either from the pilot's decision to fly at very low altitude at night with difficult visual references, or from his focus on external surveillance to find visual landmarks at the expense of monitoring his instruments, particularly altitude, while approaching his home and landing area.

More accident analyses