What happened
On March 14, 2003, a Jodel D 112 amateur-built aircraft, registered F-PIYS, was engaged in a mountain flight in the Mont Blanc massif. After departing from Grenoble Le Versoud to pick up a passenger at Challes-les-Eaux, the pilot proceeded to fly over various sites in the region. The pilot identified recent tracks on the Tour glacier at the foot of Bec Rouge and performed several reconnaissance passes before landing and taking off again. Following this, the pilot noted that the landing had been somewhat low and the takeoff had been long.
In an attempt to adjust the next landing point, the pilot decided to regain altitude. During the final approach, a downdiment caused the aircraft to drop below the intended glide path. Before reaching the decision point, the pilot initiated a right turn to interrupt the approach. While attempting to correct the turn to the left to rejoin the approach axis, the pilot lost visual references to the landing path. As the aircraft slid across the snow, the pilot realized they were to the right of the intended axis. Due to high airspeed, a left turn could not be executed, prompting the pilot to apply full power to attempt a takeoff. During this maneuver, the aircraft encountered a steep depression. The aircraft left the snow surface at the crest of a rise, and as the pilot attempted to descend through a small pass, the right wing struck a snowdrift. The aircraft rotated approximately ninety degrees to the right in mid-air before falling into the snow and coming to rest in a hollow near the Col du Passon.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of maneuvers during the final approach and the pilot's decision-making process. Investigators examined the meteorological conditions at the time, which included clear skies, visibility exceeding 10 km, and temperatures of -3 °C, with variable winds between 2 and 8 knots. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience and the aircraft's performance during the aborted landing attempt.