Fatal Airshow Accident Near Nice-Côte d'Azur (F-BKMF)

Incident Overview and Flight Details The aircraft, registered F-BKMF, departed Cannes at 1645 local time with a planned destination of Nice. The crew intended to perform three low passes over the Airport of Nice-Côte d'Azur as part of a local airshow. The first pass was completed at a low altitude over the runway. ## Loss of Control and Crash While attempting a right turn to execute a second low pass in the opposite direction, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 2,000 feet. At that point, control was lost, and the aircraft entered a dive. It caught fire in the air and crashed into the sea approximately 1.5 kilometers southwest of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed, and both pilots were killed. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the stresses applied to the airframe of F-BKMF during the maneuver to return to the Nice runway exceeded the design limit loads of the wing unit. This caused a rupture in the wing unit, resulting in a large quantity of fuel leaking from the upper surface near the wing root. The aircraft stalled under the high load factor, and the pilot was unable to regain control due to the small height margin and the damage to the aircraft structure. ## Contributing Factors The investigation noted that the maneuver may have been attempted by the pilot, who was described as experienced, skillful, and cautious, despite the considerable stick forces required in a normally trimmed aircraft. Contributing circumstances included a tight maneuver at low altitude in poor visibility, the air display atmosphere requiring special training different from that normally required for a chief pilot of the Air Affaires company, and possible anxiety to avoid crossing the flight paths of several aircraft in the vicinity during the display.