History of the Flight
On 12 November 2011, a Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II, registration G-BXRG, departed Lee-on-Solent Airfield at 1418 hrs for a return flight to Alderney. The pilot, aged 79, held a National Private Pilot's Licence and had an estimated 150 hours flying experience, all on type. He was accompanied by his wife. The flight plan filed gave an expected flight time of 50 minutes and a fuel endurance of three hours. After takeoff, the pilot made a brief radio call indicating an intention to change to an en-route frequency but did not specify which. Enquiries revealed he did not contact any air traffic control (ATC) agencies; this was not mandatory as the flight was planned to remain outside controlled airspace until approaching the Channel Islands.
The aircraft's planned route was via the reporting point ORTAC, on the north-eastern edge of the Channel Islands Control Zone. Normal procedures required the pilot to contact Jersey ATC when 10 minutes from ORTAC. When nothing was heard at the expected time, Guernsey ATC became concerned and contacted Jersey ATC to initiate overdue action. Around that time, a radar track was observed to the north of the zone, tracking southwest, returning a transponder code of 7000 but no altitude reporting. This aircraft was later suspected to be G-BXRG, though it was outside the zone and some distance from the expected route.
In-Flight Failures
According to the passenger, the pilot's wife, the initial part of the flight seemed normal. The weather in the Solent area was fine with good visibility and the aircraft flew at a typical altitude. The pilot had a photocopied chart with flight details; his wife held a chart with a drawn line. She recalled the figures "212" on the chart, consistent with the required track to ORTAC. Shortly before the expected point to call Jersey ATC, she noticed the aircraft had drifted right of the desired track on the GPS display. Soon after, the GPS display reverted to showing only the manufacturer's name "Garmin," then extinguished. At the same time, all illuminated digits on the communications/navigation control panels extinguished, except the transponder which showed "7000." The pilot made switching selections in an attempt to restore power but the display remained blank. He initially treated the malfunction as temporary.
The aircraft encountered low cloud; the pilot climbed above it. He attempted radio calls but received no response. He referred to a checklist and set the transponder code to 7600, the radio fail code. Radar later showed the aircraft deviating left and right, then making a 180° turn to the right about 32 nm west of Alderney. The transponder returns ceased shortly after, and the aircraft disappeared from radar.
Ditching and Rescue
At about 1527 hrs, a commercial vessel reported a "Mayday Relay" on the maritime distress channel stating a light aircraft had ditched into the sea. The ship's master reported the aircraft circled several times before ditching about 100 m astern on a similar course of about 070°. The propeller appeared to stop shortly before water contact. Guernsey ATC initiated accident-at-sea procedures. Lifeboats from Guernsey and Alderney, a French SAR helicopter, and a SAR Islander aircraft were dispatched. The commercial vessel returned to the site and deployed a small launch. The launch crew found a sole survivor, the pilot's wife, who was winched into the helicopter and taken to Cherbourg hospital, suffering from hypothermia but no significant injuries. The search for the pilot continued but no trace was found; only one main landing gear wheel was recovered. Lifeboat crews reported a long rolling sea swell of about 5 ft.
Survival Equipment
The aircraft carried a four-person liferaft (9.5 kg) in the cabin behind the front seats, with inflation instructions. A manually-activated Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) was in the front passenger side pocket but was not used. Both pilot and passenger wore their own manually-activated lifejackets; the passenger's inflated successfully. The passenger exited the aircraft after the pilot assisted her, taking the liferaft. She believed the pilot had unfastened his seatbelt but was hindered in exiting. The aircraft sank.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained fatal injuries; the passenger suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was lost at sea.