What happened
On the afternoon of June 30, 2024, a Cessna 172N, registration F-GCHO, was performing a local flight departing from Lognes - Émerainville aerodrome. The pilot, accompanied by two passengers, was returning to the aerodrome after flying around the Coulommiers and Meaux areas.
During the descent, the pilot provided the air traffic controller with several inaccurate position reports. Although the pilot believed he had reached a specific waypoint known as point ECHO, radar and controller communications indicated the aircraft was actually approximately 4 NM east of that point. Despite instructions from the controller to fly overhead the aerodrome at 1,500 ft to avoid traffic, the aircraft continued a descent along the A4 motorway.
At approximately 15:38, while flying at an altitude of less than 50 ft, the aircraft struck very high-voltage power lines near a motorway bridge. The impact caused the left wing to separate and the aircraft to catch fire. There were three fatalities as a result of the crash.
The investigation
The BEA investigation utilized radar data, radio recordings, and video footage from security cameras and passing vehicles to reconstruct the flight path. The investigation examined the wreckage, finding that the engine was functional and the flight controls were intact at the time of impact. The power lines involved were equipped with the required aeronautical lighting and were visible from the aircraft.
Investigators also analyzed the pilot's experience, noting that this was his first flight since being cleared for solo operations at Lognes, and his first flight as pilot-in-command with passengers. Radio spectral analysis indicated that while the engine was producing sufficient power for maneuvers, the pilot's tone and hesitations suggested increasing stress levels during the final minutes of flight.
Findings
- The pilot's inaccurate positioning led to a significant discrepancy between his perceived and actual location.
- The aircraft maintained a stable, level flight at an extremely low altitude (less than 150 ft) for approximately 2 NM along the motorway without the pilot requesting assistance or notifying the controller of any difficulties.
- The pilot's lack of recent solo experience and the pressure of his first flight as pilot-in-command with passengers likely contributed to high stress levels, making it difficult to manage the navigational error.