Cessna 172N F-GCHV Night VFR Accident at Mezos

Accident Overview and Aircraft Details On Friday, 24 August 2001, at 21:00 UTC, a Cessna 172N registered F-GCHV crashed into a forested area approximately 2,200 meters south of Mimizan aerodrome in Mezos (40), France. The aircraft was operating under a private club and was conducting night visual flight rules (VFR) circuit training. The sole occupant, a 64-year-old pilot, was killed, and the aircraft was destroyed. ## Flight Circumstances and Weather The pilot had planned three circuit turns following the aerodrome's temporary opening for night operations. After takeoff from runway 26, the pilot radioed a request for increased runway lighting, which the aeroclub president confirmed was already at maximum intensity. No further communication was received. The accident site was located beneath the downwind leg of the circuit, in a pine forest with trees 15 to 20 meters high. The narrow gap in the trees indicated the aircraft struck them in a steep nose-down attitude, estimated at approximately 30 degrees. The wreckage was disintegrated, with the main fuselage resting upside down and the forward section severed at the firewall. ## Meteorological Conditions and Analysis The region experienced warm, dry weather from 21 August, leading to the formation of low stratus and fog over the Bay of Biscay. These conditions moved inland over the Landes region at night. At the time of the accident, the sky was clear at takeoff, but 7/8 stratus with a base of 100 to 300 feet arrived shortly after. Visibility decreased from 10 km to 4–6 km. The pilot had obtained meteorological documents via AEROFAX, including METAR and TAF messages for nearby aerodromes. Forecasts for Cazaux and Biarritz indicated deteriorating conditions, including thin fog and reduced visibility. However, the pilot did not consult the chief pilot, as required by the aeroclub's internal regulations for night VFR. ## Contributing Factors The pilot was wearing replacement glasses after his usual pair was stolen three days earlier, which caused significant reading difficulties. No glasses were recovered from the site. The combination of night conditions, deteriorating visibility, and the pilot's visual impairment likely contributed to the loss of control. The aircraft was not recorded by civil or military radars, preventing a full flight path reconstruction. The emergency locator transmitter functioned, but the wreckage was not located until 06:30 the following morning due to dense forest and poor visibility.