On November 20, 1993, a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I (registration F-GBEX) operated by Phenix Air Service was involved in an aviation accident near Avignon-Caumont, France during landing or approach. 2 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A twin-engine aircraft crashed onto a roadway while approaching Avignon-Caumont Airport during a non-revenue positioning flight, resulting in the deaths of both pilots on board.
What happened
The incident occurred when a twin-engine aircraft was executing an approach to Avignon-Caumont Airport. The flight was not carrying passengers or cargo but was instead a positioning maneuver intended to move the aircraft to its operational base. During this final phase of the flight, the aircraft failed to maintain safe altitude and impacted a road situated near the airport vicinity. The force of the collision resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.
Findings
The crash resulted in immediate fatalities for all individuals on board. Both pilots operating the twin-engine aircraft were killed in the accident. The event highlights the critical risks associated with low-altitude maneuvers during positioning flights near populated areas or infrastructure such as roads.