Incident Overview
A pilot, the sole occupant of a single-engine aircraft, departed from Nevers on a ferry flight to Chambéry. The purpose of the flight was to deliver the aircraft to the Air Alpes facilities for scheduled maintenance. During the en route phase, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by limited visibility and low clouds.
Sequence of Events
While cruising under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), the pilot decided to divert to a local aerodrome due to the adverse conditions. As the aircraft neared the diversion point, it struck the top of a snow-covered mountain located near Cluny. The impact destroyed the aircraft. Despite the severity of the damage, the pilot sustained only minor injuries.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to continue flying under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions that were conducive to Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The investigation did not provide any additional details regarding contributing factors or recommendations.