Accident to the Jodel D119 registered F-PLUM on 23/06/2022 at Argentière

After taking off from Albertville aerodrome, the student pilot and instructor headed towards the Mont-Blanc mountain range before flying over the Argentière glacier, on the right side of the valley. Arriving at the glacier basin, in the presence of a low cloud ceiling and probably turbulent air conditions, they probably made a right-hand 180° turn. At the end of this 180° turn, on a part of the glacier with a slight downward slope, the aeroplane was downwind of the terrain and was probably pushed towards the ground by downdrafts.

The investigation was unable to determine:

• why the instructor took the decision to enter the Argentière glacier valley and continue the flight to the bottom of the glacier;
• the instructor's knowledge of the weather conditions in the Mont Blanc region prior to
  the flight;
• whether the instructor was aware of the disturbed aerological conditions and dangerous phenomena that could be present on the Argentière glacier when the Mont-Blanc region is exposed to a southerly wind.