Cessna 172 Skyhawk accident at Marla, Réunion, 21 July 2007 (F-OPRG)

Overview and flight details On 21 July 2007, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, registration F-OPRG, was destroyed when it struck a rock face near Marla on the island of Réunion. The aircraft was operated by Aéroclub Roland-Garros and was on a local flight. The pilot departed from runway 12 at Saint-Denis de la Réunion airport at 08:35 UTC with three passengers. After takeoff, the aircraft turned left toward point W (Le Barachois). At 08:42:50 UTC, the pilot informed the aerodrome controller that he was passing point W and requested to leave the frequency, en route to Cap La-Houssay. The controller instructed him to switch to 123.5 MHz. Shortly afterward, after flying along the coast, the pilot turned left to join the Mafate cirque. Around 08:55 UTC, the aircraft struck a rock face at approximately 1,960 metres altitude, near the Col du Taïbit, about 120 metres below the crest. ## Casualties and damage All four occupants were killed: the pilot and three passengers. The aircraft was totally destroyed. The wreckage was found about 60 metres below the impact point at the bottom of a ravine. Impact marks were identified on the rock face at approximately 1,960 metres altitude. The area was inaccessible and observed by helicopter. Small white debris was found in the area, caught in sparse vegetation. Vegetation deformation indicated the aircraft's trajectory was oriented southwest at impact. A bag belonging to one of the passengers was found on a rock ledge about ten metres lower. ## Pilot and aircraft information The pilot was a 19-year-old male who held a PPL issued on 3 March 2007. His total experience was 98 hours 20 minutes, including 24 hours as pilot-in-command. His experience on the Cessna 172 was recent, totaling 3 hours 10 minutes, including 1 hour 20 minutes as pilot-in-command. His first flight as pilot-in-command on this type occurred the morning of the accident. The aircraft, a Cessna 172 SP Skyhawk, serial number 9888, was powered by a Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine. It had been in service since 17 November 2005 and had accumulated 967 flight hours. ## Meteorological conditions On the morning of 21 July, some clouds from the ocean circulated over the southeast quarter of the island, but sunshine predominated. East to southeast trade winds were fairly strong over the north of the island, with gusts of 40 to 50 km/h. By late morning, clouds formed over the relief. In the cirques, the sky was still fairly clear, although passes were sometimes hidden. The highest peaks generally emerged from the cloud layer. ## Investigation findings No technical malfunction capable of explaining the accident was identified. The propeller showed deformations and impact marks indicating the engine was delivering power. The crankshaft was broken at the propeller flange, showing it had undergone significant torsional forces. First responders reported a strong smell of fuel upon arrival. The aircraft was not equipped with a flight recorder, as regulations did not require one for this type of aircraft. A GPS was recovered but examination yielded no results due to the absence of memory capable of restoring data. Blood samples taken from the pilot's body showed no substance capable of altering behavior. The autopsy concluded that death was instantaneous due to the impact. All four occupants were seated and fastened before the accident. The violence of the impact left them no chance of survival.