What happened
On February 23, 2011, a Robin DR 40 and 140B, registration F-GIKC, departed Limoges Bellegarde aerodrome for a local flight. The pilot initially operated south of Limoges and near Oradour-sur-Glane. Due to temporary weather degradation, the pilot transitioned to performing circuits at Saint-Junien. At 17:00, air traffic control contacted the pilot at the request of his flying club president to check on his flight conditions. The pilot indicated he would continue flying as long as visibility remained acceptable.
Radar contact was lost at 17:02 at an altitude of 1,475 feet. An eyewitness on the ground observed the aircraft descending at a low altitude in a nose-down attitude before it struck a large field. The aircraft impacted the ground at approximately 840 feet in a slight climb, though the wreckage analysis showed the aircraft hit the terrain with a 30-degree nose-down pitch and high energy. The propeller was rotating at the time of impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's flight path and the pilot's medical state. Radar data confirmed the flight was controlled and the engine was delivering sufficient power, as no significant loss of airspeed was noted during the final level flight segment. Investigators recovered empty blister packs of oxazepam from the wreckage.
Toxicological analysis of the pilot revealed the presence of risperidone, venlafaxine, and a significant quantity of oxazepam. While the pilot held a valid medical certificate, these specific medications had been prescribed after his last aeronautical medical examination. The investigation established that these substances possess psychoactive properties capable of impairing a pilot's decision-making and behavior.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the decision to fly while in a medical state incompatible with piloting an aircraft.
- The pilot had consumed a substantial amount of oxazepam, along with risperidone and venlafaxine, which could alter cognitive functions.
- There were no regulatory requirements for private pilots to seek aeronautical medical specialist advice when prescribed medications by a general practitioner, nor an obligation to notify their flying club or civil aviation authorities of such treatments.
- The pilot's ability to judge the risks of flying while under the influence of these medications was likely impaired by the underlying pathology or the medication itself.