What happened
On the evening of 02 November 2020, a SOCATA TB10, registration G-CBGC, was performing a supervised solo night VFR flight at Cannes-Mandelieu airport. The pilot was conducting five solo runway circuits to fulfill the requirements for a night VFR rating. After successfully completing four circuits, the pilot departed for the fifth and final circuit at 19:36.
While on the downwind leg, the pilot notified the airport controller of his intention to call back on final for runway 35. At 19:40, as the pilot initiated a right turn to join the base leg, the aircraft's altitude decreased abruptly. The radar track disappeared, and the aircraft subsequently collided with the sea approximately 2 NM from the runway 35 threshold. The pilot was fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path, meteorological conditions, and the pilot's experience. While the aircraft's wreckage was located at a depth of 335 meters via a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), the steep underwater gradient and poor visibility prevented physical recovery. Technical examination of recovered debris indicated a high-energy impact with the water.
Investigators analyzed the environmental conditions, noting that while the night began with a visible moon, the weather changed. A nearby pilot reported that the night had become extremely dark, making the horizon indistinguishable and creating a sensation of "being in a void" over the sea. The pilot's training records showed he had recently resumed flying after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was specifically practicing night maneuvers.
Findings
- The primary factor contributing to the accident was the change in meteorological conditions, which became conducive to spatial disorientation.
- The loss of a natural external horizon over the dark sea likely led to a lack of visual references.
- The investigation could not definitively identify the specific physiological phenomenon or instrument error that caused the sudden loss of altitude during the turn.
- The pilot was performing maneuvers in an environment where the absence of a visible horizon can induce vestibular or visual illusions.