What happened
On May 25, 2008, a Piper Aircraft PA 46 Malibu, registration N9245D, departed Biarritz for Coulommiers under a mixed IFR/VFR flight plan. While cruising at flight level 120, the aircraft began to deviate from its assigned route toward the west. Shortly after a successful radio check with Aquitaine Approach, the aircraft entered a steep descent with an increasing vertical speed. Air traffic controllers attempted to contact the pilot multiple times without response, and radar contact was subsequently lost.
Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft emerging from the clouds in a flat spin, followed by falling debris, before impacting a field. The crash resulted in two fatalities, involving the pilot and one passenger. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's structural integrity and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Technical examinations of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft had undergone an in-flight breakup. Specifically, investigators found that the right wingtip had failed due to positive load factors, and the tail section had separated from the fuselage. The left wingtip was also found detached.
Meteorological analysis showed that the aircraft was flying in an area of intense instability, characterized by heavy cloud cover, cumulonimbus clouds, and significant moisture. The investigation established that the aircraft was operating in conditions highly conducive to severe icing and intense turbulence. Furthermore, it was noted that the pilot had not contacted official meteorological services, such as Météo-France, prior to departure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to undertake the flight in known severe icing conditions.
- Severe icing likely degraded the aircraft's aerodynamic performance or contributed to spatial disorientation, leading to a loss of control.
- The aircraft's advanced automation, including weather radar and autopilot, may have created a sense of overconfidence in the pilot.
- In-flight turbulence and potential icing of the Pitot probes may have led to structural failure or an unrecoverable stall.
- Inadequate flight preparation and a failure to consult official weather forecasts contributed to the accident.