Accident to the Cessna 340 registered N340GJ on 02/12/2024 at Pernand-Vergelesses

The pilot, a candidate for the MEP class rating, had followed a training course with an ATO in Spain on the Tecnam P2006. His enrolment for the MEP practical examination had not given rise to the examination. The investigation was unable to determine the exact reasons for this.
Three months after starting his training, the pilot asked the ATO to provide him with a training certificate in order to directly pass his practical examination with a French examiner.

The pilot made an appointment with an independent examiner, not affiliated to an ATO, with whom he had already passed his PPL(A). The pilot and the examiner met at Angoulême with the intention of flying by aeroplane to Dijon - Darois aerodrome. Due to the weather conditions, this flight by aeroplane was not possible. The examiner and the candidate therefore travelled by car from Angoulême to Beaune - Challanges where N340GJ was finally situated.  

After travelling several hours by road together, the pilot and the candidate signed the lease documents on arriving at Beaune - Challanges aerodrome.  The weather conditions were such that it was not possible to fly under VFR with a succession of sometimes unstable rainy and
cloudy periods.

After taking off, as the landing gear would not retract, they turned around and landed without incident. The examiner descended from the aeroplane to inspect it. Observing no fault preventing the retraction of the landing gear, he decided to continue with the examination and carry out the test with the landing gear extended. The pilot and the examiner took off again from Beaune - Challanges. During the first part of the examination, the examiner asked the pilot to carry out a series of exercises, these included simulated engine failures. The pilot indicated that, not knowing the Cessna 340, he used the aeroplane’s checklists and that the examiner guided his actions.

After a flight time of 30 min, the examiner guided the pilot towards Dijon - Darois aerodrome with the intention of carrying out touch-and-go exercises. On arriving close to the aerodrome, the weather conditions did not permit the execution of the exercises and the examiner guided the pilot to Beaune.

When they were at two minutes of flight from Beaune - Challanges aerodrome, the examiner asked the pilot to descend.

The pilot had initially intended to descend to 1,600 ft, i.e. 1,000 ft above the aerodrome altitude. During the descent, the pilot indicated that he entered a cloud layer. The descent was continued without external visual references. The pilot then made out green ahead of him and pulled on the stick but was unable to avoid the trees. The aeroplane collided with trees at an altitude of 1,175 ft and then with the ground before finishing its run in a vineyard. The aeroplane caught fire on the ground. The examiner was able to evacuate the aeroplane unaided and then with a witness on the ground, helped the pilot exit the aeroplane.