You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Sunday 15 October 2023 |
| Time: | 10:45 |
| Type: |  Cessna 208 Caravan I |
| Owner/operator: | Skydive Center à Tallard |
| Registration: | F-HSLE |
| MSN: | 20800340 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2001 |
| Engine model: | P&W Canada PT6A-140 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Gap-Tallard Airfield (GAT/LFNA) -
 France
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Parachuting |
| Departure airport: | Gap-Tallard Airfield (GAT/LFNA) |
| Gap-Tallard Airfield (GAT/LFNA) | |
| Investigating agency: | BEA |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The skydiving plane crashed on a wooded mountainside in the Pic de Crigne sector near Gap-Tallard Airfield (GAT/LFNA).
The aircraft had just dropped fifteen skydivers at FL140.
BEA Conclusions:
After completing the sixth parachute drop of the day, while descending toward the airfield, the pilot set a southeast course toward the terrain. The aircraft's trajectory and speed, along with the tone of the pilot's voice during a final exchange with the "Para Starter" just seconds before the collision with the terrain, suggest a deliberate maneuver.
In the absence of elements supporting other hypotheses, this deviation from the return circuit to the airfield is compatible with a sudden impulsive act, allowing the pilot to escape from the psycho-emotional context from which he appeared to be suffering.
background:
In October 2022, the pilot was on sick leave after attempting suicide on the 12th. The Director of Civil Aviation Safety suspended the pilot's medical fitness on 17 October 2022 and referred the matter to the Conseil Médical de l'Aéronautique Civile (CMAC), which declared him unfit. On 8 December 2022, the pilot underwent a medical and psychological examination as part of a full class 1 medical check-up at the request of the CMAC. Following this medical and psychological examination, the psychiatrist issued a reserved opinion on the prognosis from a medical and psychological point of view and indicated that, in the event of a return to service, a reassessment should be scheduled after six months to assess his rehabilitation.
On 8 March 2023, the CMAC, after hearing the pilot and re-examining his medical file, once again issued a medical certificate of fitness to the pilot without any restrictions or follow-up obligations.
In April 2023, the pilot and his employer signed an amendment to the contract for a change to part-time work, with a gradual resumption of flights in April and May. From 10 September to 7 October 2023, the pilot was on leave, during which time he attended a course to obtain an Instrument Rating (IR) with a view to professional development. However, due to an insufficient level of English to qualify for the IR rating, the pilot did not attempt to take the final test.
The wife of the pilot stated that in the days leading up to the accident, she and her husband had separated.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/accident-to-the-cessna-208-registered-f-hsle-on-15-10-2023-at-monetier-allemont/
https://www.ledauphine.com/faits-divers-justice/2023/10/15/un-petit-avion-s-ecrase-a-proximite-de-l-aerodrome-gap-tallard
https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/hautes-alpes/crash-d-un-avion-a-l-aerodrome-de-tallard-le-pilote-seul-a-bord-trouve-la-mort-dans-l-accident-2856578.html#Echobox=1697368519
Location
Images:
Figure: BEA France
Media:
⚠️Accident mortel survenu à l’#avion @TextronAviation @Cessna #C208 immatriculé F-HSLE aujourd’hui près de #Gap / Un enquêteur de première information sur place ce jour, rejoints par deux enquêteurs @BEA_Aero demain. Ouverture d’une enquête de sécurité.
— BEA ✈️ ⚙️??? (@BEA_Aero) October 15, 2023
In a sad development, 2001 built Skydive Center Gap Tallard Cessna 208 aircraft (F-HSLE) has crashed in the mountains near Gap-Tallard Aerodrome (LFNA), France killing the pilot earlier today. Skydivers had already exited the aircraft prior crash.
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) October 15, 2023
?ledauphine and bruno muthelet pic.twitter.com/o7FEZZYl8a
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Oct-2023 14:07 | willy | Added |
| 15-Oct-2023 14:09 | harro | Updated |
| 15-Oct-2023 18:26 | Iceman 29 | Updated |
| 19-Oct-2023 17:46 | harro | Updated |
| 13-Nov-2024 15:13 | ASN | Updated [Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 13-Nov-2024 16:57 | ASN | Updated [Photo, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation