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2024-12-02: Cessna 340 (N340GJ) — SCH Aviation Trustee — Pernand-Vergelesses, France

Pernand-Vergelesses, FranceFlight

On December 2, 2024, a Cessna 340 (registration N340GJ) operated by SCH Aviation Trustee was involved in an aviation accident near Pernand-Vergelesses, France in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The following findings were identified: - May have contributed to undertaking and completing a practical examination for a class rating, despite weather conditions likely incompatible with visual flight and an inadequate aircraft condition: the time pressure… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781188677Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N340GJ
Aircraft registered N340GJ. Photo: Alec BHX/KKC / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A training flight for a multi-engine piston class rating crashed after the crew lost visual reference in poor weather. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by post-crash fire.

Flight Details

A training flight departed Beaune-Challenges Airport at 1326 local time for a multi-engine piston (MEP) class qualification. The crew consisted of a Type Rating Examiner (TRE) pilot and a student pilot.

Landing Gear Issue and Return

After takeoff, the crew was unable to raise the landing gear and decided to return to the airport. A visual check revealed no anomalies, so the crew took off again at 1405 local time to continue the training program.

Subsequent Flight and Accident

The crew completed a series of exercises and touch-and-go manoeuvres at Dijon-Darois Airport. At 1447 local time, they decided to return to Beaune. The descent was initiated in poor weather conditions with low ceiling and rain. The examiner informed the pilot they were two minutes from the airport and asked him to start the approach. While descending, the pilot lost visual reference with the ground due to clouds. When he saw 'green' in front of him, he elected to correct the path, but the airplane impacted trees and crashed in a vineyard, bursting into flames.

Injuries and Damage

Both occupants were seriously injured. The airplane was destroyed by a post-crash fire.

Probable cause

The following findings were identified: - May have contributed to undertaking and completing a practical examination for a class rating, despite weather conditions likely incompatible with visual flight and an inadequate aircraft condition: the time pressure felt for the MEP examination presentation, resulting from the pilot's training deadline, as well as the limited availability of the aircraft and examiner. - May have contributed to the loss of visual reference in flight and the collision with the ground: the pilot's repeated passage through layers during previous flights with this examiner may have led the pilot and examiner to consider this type of situation acceptable. - Furthermore, the choice of an aircraft very different from the one used by the pilot during his training (Tecnam 2006) and the lack of training on the difference resulted in a lack of comfort and an increased workload for both the pilot and the examiner. - The long trip by car the same morning (five hours between Angoulême and Beaune) may have caused fatigue for both the pilot and the examiner.

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