What happened
On the morning of February 10, 2005, a Reims-Aviation F 182 Q, registered F-GBJH, departed Perpignan-Rivesaltes at 8:20 local time. The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, intended to fly to Limoges to pick up another passenger before returning to Perpignan later that afternoon. After departing the Perpignan frequency at 8:38, the aircraft ceased all radio communication with air traffic control.
Radar tracking indicated that after one hour of flight at 6,000 feet on a heading of 335°, the aircraft began a descent. Once passing 1,000 feet, the rate of descent increased to 1,000 feet per minute until the radar signal disappeared. At the time of the disappearance, the aircraft was located approximately 43 nautical miles south of Limoges, traveling at a ground speed of roughly 120 knots.
While conditions at the departure airfield were suitable for VFR flight, meteorological charts indicated a dense cloud layer covering southwestern France with a ceiling of 1,500 feet. Although a meteorologist at Perpignan had advised the pilot to delay the flight, the pilot proceeded. The aircraft struck the ground at a steep nose-down angle near the commune of Villac.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Technical examinations of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions that could have caused the loss of control. Witnesses in the area reported that thick fog covered the region during the accident.
Findings
- The accident resulted from the loss of visual references as the pilot attempted to descend through a cloud layer to find the ground.
- The pilot's recent night flight rating and the presence of two onboard GPS units likely created an excess of confidence regarding the feasibility of the flight despite poor weather forecasts.
- Time constraints, specifically the need to pick up a passenger in Limoges and return to Perpignan the same day, may have influenced the pilot's decision to proceed without an alternative flight plan.