What happened
On 22 August 2021, two separate accidents occurred in the vicinity of Vars, France, involving aircraft participating in a German-organized cross-country flight through the Alps. Both aircraft were flying toward the Col de Vars mountain pass.
At 13:38, a Cirrus SR20, registration D-EFCD, carrying a pilot and one passenger, struck trees in a forest. The aircraft had entered the valley at an insufficient height and was unable to climb enough to clear the pass. The pilot, attempting to avoid terrain and potential downdrafts, steered toward a wooded area for an emergency landing. The impact resulted in two serious injuries and the destruction of the aircraft.
Later that afternoon, at 16:24, a Cessna 172, registration D-EFTP, carrying a pilot and two passengers, collided with a field. The pilot had entered the same valley at a low altitude, attempting to utilize updrafts to gain height. After realizing the aircraft could not clear the pass, the pilot turned toward the terrain and performed an emergency landing on a slope. The accident resulted in two serious injuries and one injury, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BEA examined the flight paths using data from the SkyDemon application and mobile phone recordings. The investigation focused on the performance of both aircraft relative to the terrain, the meteorological conditions, and the pilots' decision-making. Investigators analyzed the impact of high temperatures, heavy aircraft weights, and the reduced engine performance associated with high-density altitude. The investigation also looked into the flight preparation and the influence of the 'group effect' during the organized excursion.
Findings
- For both accidents, the aircraft entered the valley at an altitude insufficient to clear the mountain pass given their weight and the prevailing atmospheric conditions.
- Insufficient flight preparation led both crews to underestimate how much engine performance would decrease due to the high altitude, high temperature, and heavy aircraft weight.
- In the case of the D-EFCD, the pilot's limited mountain flying experience and the 'group effect'—the pressure to follow other aircraft in the group—contributed to the decision to proceed despite the risks.
- In the case of the D-EFTP, the pilot overestimated the ability of updrafts to provide the necessary climb to clear the terrain.
- The investigation noted that while meteorological conditions like turbulence and downdrafts were present, they were secondary to the primary issue of inadequate altitude and climb performance.