History of the Flight
The pilot, a British citizen born in 1982, held a PPL(A) issued by the UK CAA and had accumulated 338:59 total flight hours, with 173:20 hours on the accident aircraft type. On 5 October 2011, he departed Full Sutton, England, with his wife, flying the Piper PA-28-140 (registration G-BBEF) to Neuchâtel, Switzerland, with a stop in Amiens, France. During the stay, the pilot made six pleasure flights totaling 7:55 hours. His wife returned to England on 10 October due to weather. On 12 October, the pilot flew a passenger to Altenrhein and back.
On 14 October, the pilot planned to return to England via Amiens. He filed a flight plan from Neuchâtel to Amiens, route via Le Locle, with a flight time of 2:30 hours at 100 kt. A friend accompanied him as passenger. After refueling (95 litres) and pre-flight checks, the pilot and passenger boarded at approximately 10:35. The aircraft took off from runway 05 at Neuchâtel aerodrome under clear skies over Lake Neuchâtel but overcast conditions over the Jura.
The aircraft climbed and turned, flying along the northern shore of Lake Neuchâtel. Radar first recorded the aircraft at 10:39:37 near Bevaix, squawking 7000 without altitude. A witness at Saint-Aubin-Sauges observed the aircraft at about 3000 ft AMSL, noting cloudy conditions over the peaks. Instead of heading to Le Locle, the pilot flew northwest, performing a 270° left turn north of Yverdon-les-Bains.
At 10:53:27, the pilot contacted Geneva Lower FIC, requested Basic Service, reported position 10 NM west of Neuchâtel at 5000 ft climbing to 5500 ft AMSL. The FIC operator assigned transponder code 5101. At 10:56:18, the pilot transmitted in an agitated voice, with only "out of the clouds, of, Heu.." audible. Radar shows a right turn followed by a tight left turn of about 290° in 20 seconds over terrain at approximately 4800 ft AMSL.
At 10:56:43, the FIC operator called G-BBEF; the pilot replied, "Echo Foxtrot, I'm just in clouds, cannot see anything." The radar blip disappeared at 10:57:06. The DETRESFA plan was activated at 11:05:17.
Meteorological Conditions
At the time, the region of Fontaines-sur-Grandson experienced overcast stratocumulus with a base significantly lower than the Jura peaks. The video taken before departure showed clear skies over the lake but overcast conditions toward the Jura. Witnesses reported large clouds on the peaks and a sustained Bise wind.
Wreckage and Injuries
The wreckage was found at approximately 16:30 at the edge of a wood on a Jura ridge at Petit-Beauregard. The aircraft was destroyed. Both the pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The accident also caused tree damage and minor soil pollution.
Probable Cause
The accident was caused by the collision of the aircraft with the ground, following spatial disorientation that led to a loss of control due to a lack of external visual references.