History of the Flight
The flight was part of an excursion organized by the Angoulême flying club to Millau-Larzac aerodrome. Eight participants were equally divided between two aircraft: a PA28 registered F-GFGO and a Cessna 172 registered F-HYZY. The PA28 pilot took off at around 10:30 local time, followed by the Cessna 172 at around 10:45. The aircraft followed different routes; the PA28 pilot used ground reference navigation at altitudes between 3,000 ft and 4,000 ft, while the Cessna 172 flew a direct path at FL055.
On approach north of Millau, weather conditions deteriorated with a low cloud layer. At 12:05, the PA28 reached the Millau viaduct. At 12:08:54, the PA28 entered the cloud layer at an altitude of 3,200 ft (height 600 ft) and lost control within 10 seconds. The aircraft adopted a steep nose-down attitude and collided with the ground at 12:09:07, 5 NM north-west of Millau-Larzac aerodrome. The Cessna 172 pilot, unaware of the accident, diverted to Cassagnes-Bégonhès aerodrome.
Additional Information
Video recordings from a wind farm about 4 NM north-west of Millau-Larzac aerodrome captured the final path. The PA28 entered the cloud at 3,192 ft (height 598 ft) at 141 kt ground speed. It was hidden for 10 seconds and then reappeared with a steep nose-down path. A plume of black smoke was visible from 12:09:18 after impact.
The wreckage was found on a rocky plateau at 2,515 ft. It was complete and not dispersed. After initial contact, the aircraft turned over and caught fire. All damage resulted from impact and subsequent fire. Flight control linkages were continuous, and the engine was delivering power at impact.
The aircraft, a Piper PA28-181 Archer II, was equipped with a 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A4M engine. It was not equipped for IFR flight. Initial flight endurance was about 4 hours for an expected flight time of 1 hour 45 minutes.
Meteorological Information
The French met office described the regional situation as an anticyclonic barometric swamp with low-level south-easterly winds bringing low clouds to the Grands Causses region. The significant weather chart (SIGWX) for 09:00 UTC indicated local visibility between 1.5 and 8 km, drizzle, mist, mountain obscuration, and layers of stratocumulus and stratus with bases between 500 ft and 3,000 ft.
METAR and TAF for nearby aerodromes showed CAVOK at Rodez and deteriorating conditions at Montpellier. The estimated meteorological conditions at the accident site included wind from 130° at 15 kt gusting 26 kt, visibility >10 km under stratus but locally <2,000 m, 6-8 oktas stratus base 300-400 ft agl, temperature 8°C, dew point 7°C, QNH 1022 hPa.
Pilot Information
The 51-year-old pilot held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) since 2015 and a night rating since November 2017. He had 401 total flight hours, five hours in the previous three months, three on the PA28. He had 10 night hours, two in the previous three months.
Passenger Information
The front right passenger (61 years old) held a PPL(A) and night rating, with 1,119 flight hours. He had never flown with the pilot before and planned to fly the PA28 for the return leg. The other two passengers were the pilot’s father and a teenager with an Aeronautical Initiation Certificate (BIA).
Statements
The Cessna 172 pilot stated that the excursion was planned weeks in advance with no club briefing before the day. Flight preparation was done independently by each group. There was no joint briefing or common diversion strategy. He heard the PA28 pilot's first contact on Millau-Larzac A/A frequency announcing for landing but received no reply to his query about cloud ceiling. He estimated the cloud base at 300 ft agl when he diverted.
The passengers of the Cessna 172 reported that conditions were CAVOK until about 15 NM north-west of Millau-Larzac, then a low-level stratus layer was present.