What happened
On April 23, 2005, a Robin 3000, registration D-EZWF, was conducting a VFR flight from Nuremberg-Herzogenaurach, Germany, to Aubenas, France. The flight, which included the pilot and one passenger, was part of a long-distance trip intended to include a stop in Aubenas for refueling and a crew change.
During the flight, the aircraft transitioned through Lyon airspace. While the pilot initially maintained a steady course, the flight path became erratic as the aircraft approached the destination. At approximately 11:09 UTC, the pilot began a descent. Despite several attempts by Marseille Information to contact the aircraft, the pilot did not respond to radio calls after 11:13 UTC. Radar contact was lost at 11:21 UTC while the aircraft was at 1,500 feet. The wreckage was later discovered approximately 5 nautical miles from Aubenas, having struck treetops during a maneuver.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making process and the environmental conditions. Investigators examined the meteorological data, which showed deteriorating weather in the region, including heavy cloud cover and light rain. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while the pilot was qualified, this was his first long-distance flight of this duration, and his recent flight hours were very low.
Additionally, the role of GPS technology was analyzed. The investigation looked at how reliance on GPS might have influenced the pilot's situational awareness and his decision to proceed toward the destination rather than diverting to nearby aerodors like Valence or Montélimar.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the decision to continue the flight into a region of difficult terrain under deteriorating weather conditions.
- Contributing factors included fatigue from the long-duration flight and the pilot's limited experience with long-distance navigation.
- The proximity of the destination may have influenced the decision to persist despite the risks.
- The use of GPS may have created a false sense of security, potentially delaying the decision to divert to an alternative airport.