What happened
On the morning of May 24, 2024, a Robin DR400 aircraft, registered F-HZZB, was performing a flight for training purposes near Saint-Brieuc. The flight was part of a training program involving a flight school based at the Saint-Brieuc aerodrome. During the flight, the aircraft encountered a loss of control that led to a collision with the terrain.
Following the impact, the aircraft came to rest in a heavily wooded area. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, but the impact resulted in one fatality, specifically the pilot of the aircraft. There were no other occupants on board.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the circumstances leading to the impact with the trees. Investigators examined the aircraft's performance and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation also looked into the flight's purpose, confirming it was a training flight conducted by a local flight school.
Findings
Technical analysis of the wreckage and the flight sequence established that the aircraft struck the trees during its flight. The primary factor contributing to the accident was the impact with the forest vegetation, which caused the immediate destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.