2008 Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk accident at Connantre (F-GCGD)

Overview and flight details On 14 June 2008, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, registration F-GCGD, operated by Aéroclub de l’Est, crashed into a field at Connantre (51), France. The aircraft was participating in the first navigation of the regional air rally championship at Epernay. The pilot and passenger took off from Epernay aerodrome at 09:30 UTC. During the passage of checkpoint number 9, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which impacted the ground in a wheat field at an altitude of 360 feet. ## Casualties and damage The passenger, a 34-year-old woman acting as navigator, died. The pilot, a 36-year-old man, was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. ## Aircraft and crew The aircraft, a Piper PA 38-112 Tomahawk with serial number 80A0074, was powered by a Lycoming O-235-L2C engine. It had 11,892 hours on the airframe and 1,875 hours on the engine. The pilot held a private pilot licence, single-engine piston class rating, basic aerobatic qualification, night flying qualification, and flight instructor rating. He had 683 total flight hours. The passenger held no aeronautical licence but was affiliated with the French Aeronautical Federation (FFA) as required for the competition. ## Weather and conditions At the time of the accident, the region was under a slightly anticyclonic pressure system favorable for the development of vertical cumulus clouds. Surface winds averaged 6 knots, oscillating between south and west, with maximum values of 12 knots. Visibility was very good, humidity was approximately 80%, and the temperature was 15°C. ## Investigation findings The aircraft was not equipped with flight recorders, as not required by regulation, but a GPS calculator used for competition validation provided usable data. The wreckage was found on its belly, oriented east, with no traces of bounce or slide. The flight controls showed no anomalies, flaps were retracted, and the power and mixture controls were at full power and full rich, respectively. Propeller blade deformation indicated the engine was delivering power. All observed damage was consistent with the accident. The investigation was conducted in accordance with ICAO Annex 13, Directive 94/56/CE, and the French Civil Aviation Code, with the sole objective of drawing lessons to prevent future accidents, not to establish fault or responsibility.