What happened
On the night of October 18, 2006, a Beechcraft C 90, registration F-GVPD, was performing a medical transport flight from Lyon to Besançon. The aircraft was operated by Flowair Aviation and was carrying two surgeons to facilitate an organ transplant in Amiens.
After arriving at Besançon - La Vèze, the pilot received IFR clearance to climb to flight level 200. The pilot elected to use runway 23 for departure. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft traveled approximately 950 meters before lifting off. However, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and struck the treetops of a wooded area located 250 meters beyond the runway threshold. The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire and crash into the woods. There were four fatalities among the occupants, including the pilot and three passengers.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the takeoff performance, the aircraft's configuration, and the crew's experience. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed no mechanical anomalies. The investigation also looked into the pilot's qualifications, noting that while the pilot held a professional license, there were discrepancies regarding his English language proficiency and his reported experience on the type.
Technical analysis of the runway environment revealed that the takeoff roll was approximately 500 meters longer than the theoretical distance required for the aircraft's weight and conditions. The investigation also examined the presence of a second pilot in the cockpit, who was a member of the company but not qualified on the Beechcraft C 90 and was not acting as a formal crew member under the operator's manual.
Findings
- The aircraft struck trees in a horizontal flight path without significant bank.
- The takeoff roll was significantly longer than necessary, which may have been due to improper pitch trim settings or the pilot's attention being diverted.
- The lack of formal task sharing between the pilot and the second occupant was a contributing factor, as the second pilot's presence provided a false sense of redundancy without actual crew coordination.
- Environmental factors, including heavy darkness and the specific obstacles at the end of the runway, contributed to the accident.
- The pilot had reported experience on the aircraft type that was higher than his actual logged hours.