Accident to the Robin DR400 registered F-GMXY on 15/08/2023 at Lavau-sur-Loire

The pilot, accompanied by two passengers, was due to fly to La Baule for lunch. After telephoning the Météo-France services, he put off his departure to 11:00 with an estimated arrival at La Baule of midday.

After being in contact with Nantes tower, when contacting the FIS again, the pilot selected an incorrect radio frequency and continued his flight, passing north of the Loire at an altitude of around 1,200 ft. One minute later, north abeam Cordemais power station, the pilot changed direction to head southwards and started to descend probably to avoid incoming sea clouds.

The aeroplane very probably entered the cloud layer and the pilot lost external visual references very probably resulting in him experiencing spatial disorientation. He did not then realise that he started a RH turn with a high rate of climb.

At an altitude of around 1,200 ft, the aeroplane continued the tight RH turn with a steep nose-down attitude. The pilot very probably lost control of the aeroplane while in the turn.

When the aeroplane exited the cloud layer with a high vertical speed and steep nose-down attitude, the pilot probably did not have the time to react before the aeroplane collided with the surface of the water.