Incident Overview
On Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at approximately 14:20 local time, a Grumman G164 B registered as F-GVDJ was destroyed in a collision with electrical infrastructure near Aigues-Mortes, France. The aircraft was engaged in low-altitude agricultural spraying operations when it struck power lines.
Operational Context and Sequence of Events
The pilot departed from the Montpellier Candillargues aerodrome around 14:10 to treat a field north of Aigues-Mortes. The target parcel was oriented northeast-southwest. Two distinct electrical lines were present in the area: one with pylons approximately 7 meters high located on the southwest border, and a second, larger line situated about 300 meters further southwest.
During the approach, the pilot clearly identified both lines while flying over them from the southwest. After performing a half-turn to align with the field axis (heading 220°), the pilot began spraying. While estimating altitude using lateral observations, the aircraft collided with the cables at approximately 6 meters above ground level. The impact dragged the plane for roughly 140 meters, knocking down two concrete pylons before it crashed into a cluster of trees.
Contributing Factors and Pilot Statement
The pilot reported confusing the two electrical lines, stating that attention was drawn to the more massive second line rather than the first. Although the pilot had previously surveyed the site and identified the obstacle, they cited glare from the sun, which was positioned nearly directly ahead (azimuth 196°, elevation 41°), as a visual impediment.
The pilot held 9,885 total flight hours, including 1,500 on type. On the morning of the accident, they had completed four hours and 55 minutes of spraying flights in three rotations between 07:30 and 13:00. The investigation noted that fatigue from this activity may have contributed to a temporary lapse in vigilance.
Environmental Conditions
Weather conditions at Montpellier Méditerranée, located 9 nautical miles away, included a wind from 160° at 5 knots, CAVOK visibility, and a temperature of 22°C. Examination of the wreckage confirmed impacts on both left and right guy wires.