What happened
On 24 November 2002, a Piper PA-28 Arrow, registration F-GHKI, crashed into the terrain near the summit of Monte Stello in Corsica. The flight, operated by Union Aéronautique de la Côte d’Azur, was a cross-country mission traveling from Florence, Italy, to Cannes-Mandelieu, France.
The pilot, accompanied by three passengers, was flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). After contacting the Bastia-Poretta Flight Information Sector, the pilot requested clearance to climb to 4,500 ft. Shortly after receiving this clearance, the pilot inquired about the weather at the destination. During this period of communication, radio contact with the aircraft was lost. A subsequent search operation located the wreckage at an altitude of 4,288 ft. The impact was a high-energy collision that resulted in a fire, and all four occupants were fatally injured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's flight path, the meteorological conditions, and the pilot's decision-making process. Investigators determined that while the aircraft was flying over the sea, the pilot shifted the route north of the planned path. Radar data from Rome indicated that the pilot began a climb from 3,600 ft less than one minute before the collision, but the rate of climb was insufficient to clear the ridge line.
Technical analysis of the Piper PA-28 Arrow showed the engine was delivering power at the time of impact and the aircraft was in a nose-up attitude. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's autopilot was unavailable as it had been sent for repairs. Furthermore, the controller's ability to monitor the aircraft was limited because the Genoa-Montesima radar image was unavailable, and the terrain of Cap Corse masked the Grasse radar coverage.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the decision to continue the flight in meteorological conditions incompatible with VFR flight.
- The pilot failed to consider a diversion to Bastia-Poretta airport, which was a viable option just minutes before the crash.
- The pilot's workload likely increased as he transitioned from flying over the sea to a mountainous area with no external visual references and no autopilot.
- The pilot's focus on destination weather and the pressure of passengers' upcoming work commitments likely interfered with effective piloting and decision-making.
- The requested climb to 4,500 ft was insufficient to clear the terrain given the aircraft's actual position north of the planned route.