What happened
On December 1, 2023, a Piper PA3-260, registered N15902, departed from Les Saintes - Terre-de-Haut aerodrome in Guadeloupe for a planned flight to Marie-Galante. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and four passengers on a mission to inspect work sites across several islands.
Shortly after takeoff from runway 09, the aircraft climbed to approximately 680 feet. Data from ADS-B and onboard video analysis indicated that the climb leveled off, followed by a significant increase in vertical speed and the start of a right turn in descent. The aircraft subsequently lost control during the turn and struck the surface of the water approximately 2 nautical miles off the coast. The impact resulted in five fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's wreckage, which was recovered from a depth of 45 meters. Investigators analyzed the engine, the fuel system, and the pilot's flight history. A tomographic examination of the fuel selector was performed to determine which tank was supplying the engine at the time of the accident.
Investigators also reviewed the flight plan activation procedures in Guadeloupe. Because the pilot could only activate the flight plan via radio at an altitude of at least 1,500 feet, the flight plan was not yet active when the accident occurred. This lack of activation meant air navigation services were unaware of the aircraft's presence, delaying the triggering of search and rescue phases.
Findings
- The loss of control was caused by an attempted U-turn at a low altitude, likely following a reduction in engine power during the initial climb.
- The fuel selector was found in the position for the right auxiliary tank, which contained only a small amount of fuel. This configuration likely led to fuel starvation.
- It could not be determined if the incorrect selector setting was an error made during pre-flight or an input made during the power reduction.
- The asymmetrical design of the PA32 fuel selector, which makes identifying the selected tank more complex, may have contributed to the error.
- The delay in the search and rescue response was due to the flight plan not being activated prior to takeoff, leaving the aircraft unmonitored by air navigation services.