What happened
On September 27, 2009, at approximately 10:45 local time, a Piel CP 1320 Saphir, registration F-PRCH, was performing local maneuvers near Saint-Quentin-du-Dropt. Ten minutes after departing from Bergerac aerodrome, the aircraft approached a residence where a witness observed the pilot performing a 360-degree turn at an estimated altitude of 500 feet. The aircraft then descended to a very low altitude to perform a second 360-degree turn around the same location. During these maneuvers, the pilot signaled to the witness, and the aircraft appeared to be "buffeting."
Following these turns, the aircraft initiated a steep pull-up. At the apex of this maneuver, the aircraft rolled onto its left wing and entered a steep dive. While attempting another pull-up just meters above the ground, the right wing struck an embankment running alongside a path. The aircraft slid across the path and crashed into a wooded embankment, where it overturned and caught fire. The impact resulted in two fatalities, including the pilot and a passenger.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage of the Piel CP 1320 Saphir and found no mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the accident. Deformations to the propeller indicated that the Lycoming O 320 engine was producing power at the time of impact. The aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within the manufacturer's specified limits. While the engine and airframe were technically equipped for aerobatic flight, the pilot had not completed the necessary administrative procedures to certify the aircraft as "aerobatic."
Medical examinations of the pilot revealed no physiological abnormalities that would have impaired flight capabilities. Witnesses noted that the pilot had frequently flown over the same area under similar conditions in the past.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at an altitude insufficient to complete the maneuver safely.
- The pilot was performing maneuvers without the required authorization for aerobatic flight.
- The aircraft was operating within its structural and weight limits, and no engine or airframe failure was identified.