Cockpit Smoke Forces Emergency Ditching in the Gulf of Lion (N46WA)

Incident Overview and Flight Context A pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was conducting a ferry flight from Germany to the United States. The planned route included stops in Lisbon and the Azores Islands. During the cruise phase of the flight, the aircraft was operating at flight level 130 (FL130) in the vicinity of Martigues. ## Emergency Response and Ditching While cruising, smoke began to spread throughout the cockpit. In response to the smoke, the pilot initiated an emergency descent. The pilot subsequently ditched the aircraft in the Gulf of Lion, off the coast of Marseille. ## Outcome The pilot was rescued from the water. The aircraft sank and was declared lost. No specific aircraft type, registration, operator, or date was provided in the source material.