What happened
On February 10, 2012, a private Socata TBM 700, registration D-FALF, was conducting a flight from Maribo, Denmark, to Cuers Pierrefeu aerodrome in France. Although the pilot had initially filed an IFR flight plan, he canceled it near the St Tropez VOR, intending to complete the arrival under VFR conditions.
As the aircraft approached runway 11 from the north at approximately 1,50 and 400 feet, the pilot encountered heavy snow showers. During the descent, horizontal visibility dropped to zero, and the pilot lost all external visual references. In an attempt to recover, the pilot initiated a go-around; however, he reported no perceived increase in engine power. At approximately 200 feet, realizing the aircraft had drifted to the right of the runway, the pilot attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft struck the ground on the right side of the runway, sliding 150 meters and pivoting before coming to a halt. The impact resulted in minor injuries to the pilot and passengers, but the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft wreckage, meteorological data, and witness accounts. Radar imagery confirmed a convective cell was present, producing snow and cloud bases near 1,300 feet. Witnesses on the ground reported extremely poor visibility due to a heavy snowstorm and observed the aircraft at a very low altitude, noting a steep nose-down attitude and an inclination of more than 45 degrees shortly before impact.
Technical examination of the wreckage showed the landing gear was extended and flaps were set to 10 degrees. While the pilot reported a lack of power during the go-around attempt, investigation of the fuel pump and regulator revealed no mechanical anomalies. The manufacturer noted that turboprop engines can have a response lag of up to 3.1 seconds at low power settings. The pilot, an experienced flyer with 8,000 total hours, had been flying to this specific aerodrome for 17 years.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the decision to continue a VFR approach despite deteriorating meteorological conditions.
- The pilot encountered heavy snow showers that eliminated all visual references.
- An excess of confidence in the ability to navigate through snow showers, combined with a strong determination to land, contributed to the accident.