What happened
On Tuesday, December 17, 2002, a SOCATA TB 20, registration F-GDNS, departed from Cannes for Vichy as a private VFR flight. During the flight, the pilot contacted Clermont-Ferrand approach to transit the TMA and inquired about the weather at the destination. The controller reported rain and broken clouds at Vichy, as well as low ceilings and drizzle at Clermont-Ferr and Saint-Yan.
Seeking a gap in the clouds, the pilot decided to divert toward Nevers, where the controller reported better visibility and higher ceilings. At approximately 16:38 UTC, the pilot reported finding a gap in the cloud layer and began a 360-degree turn to descend. After communicating with the Vichy tower, the pilot's final radio transmission occurred at 16:58 UTC while requesting the Nevers frequency. Radar tracking ended at 17:03 UTC. Witnesses near the crash site reported hearing engine accelerations and decelerations prior to the impact. The aircraft struck the ground at a high energy state in a steep, 45-degree nose-down dive.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the meteorological conditions encountered during the final stages of the flight. Investigators examined the aircraft's impact angle and the engine performance reported by witnesses. The investigation also reviewed the weather reports (METAR/TAF) for Vichy, Clermont-Ferrand, and Nevers, noting that the pilot was actively seeking visual flight rules (VFR) gaps in the cloud layers. While the aircraft's departure equipment at Cannes could not confirm if the pilot had reviewed pre-flight weather briefings, the pilot's radio communications clearly indicated an ongoing attempt to navigate through deteriorating visibility and low ceilings.
Findings
- The aircraft struck the terrain in a high-energy, descending turn.
- The pilot demonstrated an obstinacy to reach the intended destination despite deteriorating weather.
- There was an insufficient consideration of meteorological information during flight preparation and execution, specifically regarding the risks of navigating through low ceilings and rain while seeking visual gaps.
- The pilot was not instrument-rated, which limited the ability to safely navigate the cloud layers encountered.