What happened
On 13 March 2021, a Tecnam P2008 aircraft, registered F-ORVY, disappeared at sea off the coast of Tahiti. The flight, which was an unauthorized solo cross-country mission, began when the pilot took off from Tahiti-Faa’a airport at approximately 16:40. After landing at Moorea-Temae airport, the pilot departed again at 16:59, heading toward the Taiarapu Peninsula.
During the flight, air traffic controllers noted that the aircraft disappeared from radar coverage after 17:08, as the aircraft was flying below the 1,000-foot radar threshold. At 17:30, the pilot communicated with the controller, reporting an altitude of 1,000 feet near Papara. However, the controller immediately informed the pilot that a local resident had observed the aircraft flying dangerously low, between 100 and 150 feet above the sea. While the pilot acknowledged the instruction to maintain at least 500 feet, subsequent attempts by the controller to communicate at 17:36 and 17:39 went unanswered. No emergency signals were received, prompting the initiation of search and rescue operations.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the disappearance of the pilot and the aircraft. Investigators examined radar data, radio communications, and GPS location data retrieved from the pilot's mobile phone. The mobile data confirmed the aircraft's path was consistent with the reported flight, with the final recorded position at 17:46 located roughly 10 nautical miles south of the Taiarapu Peninsula.
Regarding the aircraft, the Tecnam P2008 was found to be in good mechanical condition, with recent maintenance completed in February 2021. Investigators also looked into how the unauthorized flight was possible. They discovered that at the flight training organization, aircraft are not locked and ignition keys are left in the cockpits for easy access. The pilot, a 17-year-old student, had filed a flight plan using a false name and had no scheduled instruction for the day of the accident.
Findings
- The pilot was an unlicensed student pilot with approximately 50 total flight hours.
- The aircraft was accessed easily because the training center left keys in the ignition and did not secure the hangars.
- The pilot had been experiencing personal and academic difficulties, which had led him to question his future in aviation.
- The pilot intentionally took risks, as suggested by the flight circumstances, his state of mind, and the observed low-altitude maneuvers.