What happened
On June 9, 2014, a Reims Aviation F172N, registration F-GJSQ, was conducting a general aviation flight between Gap Tallard and Mont-Domin Saint-Crépin. The pilot, accompanied by two passengers, intended to navigate through the Ubaye Valley and over the Col de Vars. After performing a missed approach at Barcelonnette, the pilot continued toward the destination, stabilizing the flight at an altitude of 6,000 ft.
As the aircraft approached the pass, the pilot realized the current altitude was insufficient to clear the terrain and attempted to climb. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck trees and then collided with the terrain west of the Col de Vars, subsequently catching fire. The pilot and the front passenger managed to evacuate the wreckage, but one passenger died at the scene, and the pilot and the second passenger sustained injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the wreckage, which was located in a rocky area approximately 450 meters west and 60 meters above the Col de Vars. The wreckage showed the aircraft struck the terrain with low energy. While the engine's power output at impact could not be determined, the flaps were found in the fully extended position. No mechanical malfunctions were identified as contributing factors.
Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable, with calm winds, visibility exceeding 10 km, and scattered stratocumulus clouds with bases between 6,000 and 7,000 ft.
Regarding flight preparation, the pilot had relied on an altitude of 2,100 m (approximately 6,900 ft) obtained from a non-aviation map (IGN) rather than aeronautical charts. The pilot had converted this to 6,000 ft to serve as a safety margin. This was the pilot's first flight as commander in a mountainous region. A passenger with a private pilot license noted that the crew realized too late that their trajectory was off-course and that they lacked the altitude to clear the terrain or execute a turnaround. The stall warning had activated prior to impact, with an indicated airspeed of 48 kt.
Findings
- Inadequate flight preparation led the pilot to fly at an altitude below the required safety margin for the terrain.
- Late detection of the inability to clear the ridge and the impossibility of performing a timely turn.
- The aircraft's trajectory was not aligned with the pass, likely causing the pilot to miss the intended route and instead climb toward adjacent terrain.
- In mountainous terrain, following a ridgeline can lead a pilot to maintain an increasingly nose-high attitude and decreasing airspeed, eventually resulting in a stall.