What happened
On October 29, 2015, a Cessna Reims Aviation F152, registration F-GBJR, departed from Perpignan Rivesaltes for Sainte-Léocadie. The pilot, accompanied by one passenger, was flying at a low altitude through a valley in a mountainous region. While attempting to increase power to clear a mountain pass, the pilot experienced a significant loss of engine power.
In an attempt to perform an emergency landing, the pilot steered the aircraft toward a field. During the descent, the aircraft struck trees and hit the ground, which subsequently triggered a fire. The pilot managed to evacuate the aircraft, but the passenger sustained two injuries and remained trapped inside the wreckage until firefighters and witnesses arrived to control the blaze. The aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the damage was consistent with the collision with trees and the subsequent forward impact with the ground. The flight controls were functional, and the fuel tanks still contained fuel. Notably, the propeller showed minimal damage, which is consistent with the engine producing low or no power at the moment of impact. A mechanical inspection of the engine revealed no malfunctions that could explain the power loss.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing the aircraft flying at very low altitudes. While some noted the engine sound initially seemed normal, others reported hearing engine sputtering before the impact. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while the pilot held a private pilot license, they did not possess a mountain flying qualification.
Findings
- The investigation determined that carburetor icing was the primary cause of the power loss.
- Meteorological conditions at the accident site, specifically the temperature and dew point, presented a moderate to severe risk of carburetor icing.
- The pilot's decision to fly at a very low altitude within the valley, where relative humidity is higher, increased the risk of icing.
- The position of the carburetor heat control indicated that the pilot was not actively managing the risk of icing.
- Flying at low altitude beneath the ridgeline significantly reduced the time available to identify the power loss and execute an appropriate emergency landing procedure.