What happened
On Thursday, August 13, 1998, at 14:15 local time, a Robin ATL, registration EC-FYT, was conducting a private VFR flight from Sarlat to Carcass and encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) shortly after passing Toulouse. The pilot initially attempted to climb to exit the cloud layer but subsequently decided to descend in an effort to regain visual contact with the ground, with the intention of diverting to Gaillac. During this descent, the aircraft struck the terrain in a level attitude in a field at an altitude of 2,440 feet. The impact caused the landing gear to break, and the aircraft bounced and slid approximately 100 meters before coming to a halt. The accident resulted in two serious injuries and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft was not equipped for IFR flight. While in radio contact with Toulouse Information, the pilot had requested the meteorological conditions for the destination aerodrome. The pilot was navigating using a VFR aeronautical chart, a Michelin road map, and two GPS units. Data extracted from one of the GPS units confirmed that the pilot had programmed ten waypoints and two flight plans, and the flight path followed the programmed route.
Meteorological analysis revealed that a cold front was moving through the region, causing cloud ceilings to drop significantly. Near the accident site in the Montagne Noire area, cloud bases were between 300 and 400 meters, and visibility was temporarily reduced to less than 1,000 meters due to fog or mist.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the insufficient consideration of meteorological conditions and a late decision-making process regarding the deteriorating weather.
- The aircraft entered IMC while operating under VFR procedures.
- The pilot's decision to descend to regain visual reference led to the collision with the terrain.