Collision with Terrain of Piper PA28 F-HEHM near Treilles, France

History of the Flight

On the morning of 1 July 2015, the owner of a PA34 decided to ferry the Piper PA28 registered F-HEHM from Montpellier to Perpignan under VFR. The pilot took off from Montpellier at 10:59 local time and followed a coastal route. While en route, a layer of cloud covered the coastal region. At 11:07, the crew of another PA28 (aeroplane B) turned back near Port Leucate due to low ceiling. At 11:24, the pilot of F-HEHM descended to 1,000 ft to pass under the cloud layer, and at 11:26 stated he had come out of clouds at 800 ft. He then turned inland, flying around a cloud mass. At 11:30, the aircraft struck high terrain near Treilles at an altitude of 690 ft. The peak was in fog at the time.

Meteorological Conditions

Weather forecasts had indicated improving conditions, but a ceiling below 500 ft around reporting point NL made VFR flight impossible at that point. Visibility was reduced, and the peak of the terrain was in fog.

Pilot and Aircraft Information

The pilot held a private license and was familiar with the route. The aircraft was a Piper PA28, registered F-HEHM. No other persons were on board.

Injuries and Damage

The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Other Aircraft

Two other aircraft (a DR400 and a PA28) flying the same route had diverted earlier due to adverse weather conditions. They reported their decisions to Montpellier Approach.

Communication and Air Traffic Control

The pilot was in radio contact with Montpellier Approach. The controller asked him to maintain VMC conditions. The pilot did not request weather information or assistance. The controller did not pass on information about the weather reports from the other aircraft.

Investigation Findings

The investigation suggested that the pilot's determination to reach his destination, overconfidence due to his knowledge of the route, and the proximity of the destination may have led him to continue despite deteriorating conditions. The lack of systematic passing of weather information to VFR pilots by the control unit was also noted.