What happened
A flight departing from Alpe d'Huez Aerodrome ended in a fatal accident while the crew and passengers were conducting aerial filming of recent avalanches. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers, including a journalist and a sound engineer. During the approach to a mountain situated above the airfield, the aircraft encountered powerful downdrafts. This atmospheric instability caused the plane to strike a rocky terrain at an elevation of approximately 2,070 meters.
The impact resulted in immediate severe injuries for two occupants and the death of one passenger. Although the survivors were initially stabilized, they succumbed to their injuries several hours after the accident occurred. The total number of fatalities was three.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the aircraft lost stability due to severe downdrafts encountered during the flight phase near the mountain.