What happened
On July 18, 2009, a Cirrus Design SR 22, registration N752CD, was engaged in a cross-country flight from Luxembourg to Le Castelet, France. The pilot departed Luxembourg at 09:25, initially following a route east of the planned VFR flight path. During the flight, the pilot communicated with the Reims and Geneva Information Centers, reporting a flight level of 105 under visual flight rules (VFR) while heading south.
At 10:40, air traffic controllers observed the aircraft in a descent. When asked to confirm the change in altitude, the pilot, who was turning west, stated, "I am forced to descend rapidly, I am freezing." Approximately twenty seconds later, the pilot issued four consecutive "MAYDAY" calls. Radar tracking showed a sharp increase in the aircraft's turn rate, with the final radar contact recorded at 10:41:48.
The investigation
Investigators reconstructed the flight using radio communications and radar tracking. Examination of the accident site revealed that the Cirrus Design SR 22 struck the ground at a very high speed in a steep dive. While the aircraft was equipped with a recovery parachute, investigators could not determine if the pilot attempted to deploy it.
Analysis of the flight path showed that the aircraft deviated from its original flight plan. Furthermore, there was no evidence to confirm whether the pilot had obtained updated meteorological information prior to departing Luxembourg.