What happened
A twin-engine aircraft departed Avignon at 16:31 local time, operating a VFR flight destined for Brussels with two pilots and three passengers on board. While descending through 6,400 feet after being cleared to 2,000 feet, the aircraft entered a left-hand spiral. During this maneuver, the airframe experienced an aerodynamic overload that caused the tail, the upper left wing, and both wing leading edges to separate from the fuselage. The uncontrolled aircraft subsequently struck the ground in the vicinity of Breendonk. There were five fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to crew competency and mechanical failures. It was determined that the crew lacked the necessary licenses and qualifications required for this specific flight profile. Additionally, the aircraft's pitot tube heating system was not activated.
Technical issues were also present; both the autopilot and the wing leading edge de-icing system had been non-functional for five days prior to the crash. The investigation concluded that the primary cause was a loss of control during descent under instrument flight conditions, which led to a high-speed pull-up that exceeded the structural limits of the airframe. Icing conditions were also noted as a potential risk factor.