Accident to the Piper PA-44 Seminole registered F-GCJE on 26/02/2020 at Elne (Pyréneés-Orientales)
Collision avec le sol lors d'un vol de nuit
Cat. 2 investigation report: simplified-format report, adapted to the circumstances of the occurrence and the investigation stakes.
After climbing over the wire fence into the airport at which the runways were closed by NOTAM, and after getting into the aeroplane that did not require a key to start the engines, a man, with no flying experience, took off in the middle of the night from a taxiway. He flew at low height in the vicinity of Perpignan for approximately one hour, in turbulent meteorological conditions. During a turn, the aeroplane entered a nose-down attitude and collided with the ground.
The aeroplane being left unlocked made it easy for the person to get into the aircraft to make this illicit flight.
The safety investigation conducted to improve aviation safety, did not endeavour to determine the reasons behind this person’s choice to use this aeroplane in this illicit context.