What happened
On January 2, 2010, a Cessna 172 P, registered OO-TRB, departed Ursel airfield for a local flight with two occupants on board. While the initial conditions were favorable, the weather deteriorated rapidly around 15:20 UTC due to significant snowfall. As other aircraft in the area landed or diverted, the OO-TRB failed to respond to radio calls from airfield staff.
Witnesses reported hearing an engine power increase followed by the sound of crashing trees in a nearby forest at approximately 15:30 UTC. A search operation involving military and federal police helicopters eventually located the wreckage north of the airfield at 21:00 UTC. The impact resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the aircraft had been destroyed by impact forces. The fuselage was found upside down, and the engine was positioned at a 75-degree upward angle. The investigation confirmed the aircraft was airworthy for VFR operations and that the engine was running at the time of the crash.
Technical analysis revealed that the transponder was switched off, and several electrical systems—including pitot heat, navigation lights, and landing lights—were also inactive. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was not equipped with an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), which was not legally required for this type of operation in Belgium at the time.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was controlled flight into terrain resulting from low-altitude maneuvering in adverse weather.
- The pilot likely experienced "get-home-itis," choosing to return to the home base despite the encroaching snowfall rather than diverting to another airfield.
- The pilot's experience was largely limited to local flights at Ursel, which may have hindered the decision to seek alternative landing sites.
- Reduced visibility, potentially exacerbated by snow accumulation on the windshield and a high-wing design that obscured forward vision, likely led to the loss of visual contact with the ground.
- The lack of an active transponder and ELT contributed to the difficulty in locating the wreckage during the search.
Safety action
- The AAIU(Be) recommended that authorities promote the systematic activation of transponders to assist air traffic control and search efforts.
- A recommendation was made to update Belgian regulations to align with ICAO standards regarding the requirement for ELTs on national flights.
- The investigation suggested that pilot training and skill tests should be revised to better address decision-making during adverse weather and unintentional entry into IMC.