3 fatalities

2004-12-24: Beechcraft 90 King Air (F-GVRM) — Aéro Pyrénées — Montpellier-Méditerranée, France

Montpellier-Méditerranée, FranceLanding (descent or approach)

On December 24, 2004, a Beechcraft 90 King Air (registration F-GVRM) operated by Aéro Pyrénées was involved in an aviation accident near Montpellier-Méditerranée, France during landing or approach. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by the crew losing control after a go-around. Contributing factors included inadequate flight control management during a one-engine go-around and delayed reaction from the examiner, along with the examiner's recent lack of experience… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781199912Data APIEditorial standards

A training flight at Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport ended in a crash, destroying the aircraft and killing all three occupants. The crew lost control after a go-around with one engine reduced. Official findings cite inadequate flight control management and delayed examiner reaction.

Accident Overview

On the day of the accident, a training flight departed from Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport at 0802 local time. The aircraft was crewed by a type rating instructor (TRI), a type rating examiner (TRE), and a pilot under supervision. The mission was a local training sortie.

Flight Sequence

The crew performed a touch-and-go landing on runway 31R. Following this, the instructor reduced power on the right engine and conducted a low pass over the runway. During this maneuver, the aircraft began a left turn, lost altitude, and rolled to the left. It subsequently crashed into a pond located to the right of the runway. The impact destroyed the aircraft, and all three occupants were killed.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation, the accident resulted from the crew losing control of the aircraft after a go-around. The loss of control was likely caused by inadequate management of the flight controls while performing a one-engine go-around and a delayed reaction from the examiner (TRE). Contributing factors included the examiner's recent lack of experience in providing instruction on the BE90 and his position in the right front seat. No technical anomalies were found on the aircraft, and the loss of control occurred at low altitude.