Accident Overview
On a flight from Annecy-Meythet Airport to Toussus-le-Noble, a TBM-700 aircraft carrying five passengers and one pilot departed at 1033 local time. The flight operated under instrument flight rules and cruised at flight level 180. At 1111 local time, while near Auxerre and heading to the waypoint EBOMA, the pilot informed air traffic control of readiness to descend. Clearance was issued to descend to flight level 120.
Shortly thereafter, the aircraft began drifting left of the airway. ATC alerted the pilot of the deviation; the pilot acknowledged and initiated a right turn, at which point control was lost. The airplane entered a dive, reached excessive vertical speed, and crashed in an open field. The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all six occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation did not identify any technical failure that could have contributed to the accident. However, the complete destruction of the aircraft precluded full wreckage examination. Investigators noted the possibility that the aircraft was flying in moderate icing conditions, though it could not be determined whether the deicing systems were activated.
Analysis of the flight path showed stable cruising speed until descent, suggesting no significant icing during cruise. Rapid and heavy icing during descent was deemed unlikely given the forecast icing conditions from Météo France. The investigation was unable to determine the reasons for the loss of control; it may have occurred during an unusual situation or due to a failure.
Contributing factors considered included the pilot's lack of experience on the TBM-700, especially in the absence of visual references. This may have increased workload beyond the pilot's capabilities, preventing recovery. Once control was lost, weather conditions likely prevented the pilot from regaining visual references before impact.