Jodel D140 C Mousquetaire F-BMFX Accident at Saint Sorlin d'Arves

Incident Overview and Flight Details On 22 March 2009, a Jodel D140 C Mousquetaire, registration F-BMFX, operated by the Aéroclub de Méribel, was involved in a fatal accident on the Glacier de l'Etendard in Saint Sorlin d'Arves, France. The aircraft was conducting a mountain training flight. The flight departed from Méribel at approximately 09:30 UTC, with the objective of reaching Saint-Etienne-de-Dévoluy for a mountain pilot gathering. During the flight, the aircraft passed near the Saint Sorlin altisurface, where the pilot in the left seat was instructed to perform landings on a secondary axis known as 'la bosse à Collot.' ## Accident Sequence and Impact After a successful first landing and takeoff, the pilot attempted a second landing. The instructor requested a stop, and the pilot applied right rudder and brakes, causing the skis to sink into the snow. The engine was shut down. While the two pilots cleared the skis for a potential takeoff, the instructor decided to perform a full circuit to retrieve the pilot at a higher altitude. During the subsequent takeoff attempt, the aircraft was observed by another pilot. The F-BMFX banked left, then right, inverted, and struck the glacier in a near-vertical attitude. The aircraft was destroyed, and both occupants, a 60-year-old male pilot and a 76-year-old female passenger, were killed. ## Aircraft and Environmental Conditions The aircraft, first registered in 1966, was equipped with skis for snow operations and had a Lycoming O-360-A3A engine. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were clear with visibility over 10 km and a temperature of -5°C. Although earlier reports indicated turbulence in the area, witnesses at the site described the wind as light and stable during the incident. The altisurface is located at 9,600 feet, with a 15% average slope, and is used during winter and spring when snow cover is sufficient. ## Investigation Findings The BEA investigation found that the aircraft impacted the ground in a near-vertical, inverted attitude. The flaps were set to the first notch, consistent with the takeoff configuration. The engine was in excellent condition and expected to function normally. The cockpit was locked, and the fuel system was in the 'forward' position. The autopsy of the pilot revealed coronary artery disease, but toxicology showed no drug use. The vertical collision with the terrain left no possibility of survival for the occupants.