What happened
On May 12, 1978, a Piper PA 28 R aircraft, registered HB-OQX, was conducting a VFR flight from Geneva to Quiberon. While flying through France, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions, eventually entering Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) near Nevers.
During a descent toward Bourges, the pilot was being guided by Avord radar control. At approximately 11:57 UTC, the pilot's radio communication was abruptly interrupted. Roughly 48 seconds later, the pilot re-established contact, stating that the aircraft had struck something and was in a state of distress. Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft in a spin, trailing debris, before it impacted a field near St. Léger le Petit. The impact resulted in four fatalities, as all four occupants were killed instantly. The aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the fuselage was twisted and the main spar was broken but not severed. Notably, the right wing had separated from the fuselage, and traces of red and yellow paint on a wing component matched the paint on the vertical stabilizer. The engine was found with the controls set to idle, and the propeller showed no signs of impact, indicating the engine was not producing power at the time of the crash.
Technical analysis focused on the structural integrity of the wing. The investigation utilized findings from the German Institute for Aerospace Research, which had previously identified structural weaknesses in the PA 28 wing spar under specific load conditions. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight preparation and the meteorological conditions present during the flight.
Findings
- The pilot initiated a flight without adequate meteorological preparation, failing to realize that a significant weather system made VFR flight from Geneva to Quiberon impossible.
- The pilot entered flight conditions for which they were not qualified, specifically flying in IMC.
- During the descent, the pilot performed a brutal recovery maneuver to correct an abnormal aircraft attitude, which exceeded the structural limits of the airframe.
- The aircraft suffered an in-flight wing failure due to a known structural weakness in the wing spar when subjected to high-load recovery maneuvers.
- The pilot's lack of updated navigation data, specifically regarding outdated VOR frequencies, may have contributed to disorientation.