What happened
On December 6, 2007, a North American T6-G, registration F-AZYT, departed from Cuers Pierrefeu aerodrome for a scheduled aerobatic flight session. The flight was intended to take place within a designated aerobatic zone located approximately 3 km northeast of Castellet aerodrome.
During the flight, a witness observed the aircraft performing a series of maneuvers, specifically three consecutive loops. The final loop ended when the aircraft struck the terrain in the commune of Signes. Surveillance footage from the nearby Castellet motor circuit captured the aircraft in a steep dive, recovering into a level trajectory just before it disappeared into the vegetation. Following the impact, white and black smoke, along with flames, were visible. The impact caused the aircraft to break apart and ignited a fire that consumed the wreckage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's mechanical condition, the flight path, and the environmental factors. Investigators examined the wreckage and the impact site, which consisted of rocky terrain and Mediterranean scrubland.
Analysis of the wreckage revealed that the control cables were intact and showed no evidence of in-flight failure; all damage was consistent with the impact. The engine was found to be delivering significant power at the time of impact, as evidenced by the condition of the propeller blades. Furthermore, the aircraft's flight path, as recorded by a security camera, showed a trajectory that was nearly horizontal with a slightly positive pitch, which was consistent with the end of an aerobatic loop.
Findings
- The pilot held the necessary qualifications for the flight, though he was not an instructor.
- The passenger, a highly experienced former naval instructor with over 19,000 total flight hours, was flying in the rear seat; however, his pilot license had not been valid since 2001.
- No mechanical failures contributing to the accident were identified.
- The decision to initiate a third loop at insufficient altitude and airspeed prevented the crew from completing the maneuver without striking the terrain.