The pilot mentioned inconsistencies in the Beechcraft instrument display and followed the ILS with the right seat instruments. © BEA
On May 22, 2022, the trajectory of a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air C90A on approach to Le Bourget airport came into successive conflict with 2 A320s on final at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. Momentarily disoriented, according to the BEA investigation, the pilot suffered hypoglycemia.
On the morning of May 22, 2022, the pilot of Beechcraft C90A F-HHAM got up early. He took off from Montpellier to reach Paris-Le Bourget where he landed without incident. After eating a few biscuits, he takes off for Ancenis at 12:50 p.m. At 2:50 p.m., he took off from Ancenis to return to Le Bourget.
Under IFR flight regime, the aircraft moves in the layer. On arrival at Paris-Le Bourget, it was authorized to carry out an ILS approach on runway 27. Under autopilot, as it approached the ILS localizer, the aircraft crossed the axis of approaches at 90° and continues on its way.
At the same time, an A320 was on final approach to runway 27R at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. As the Beechcraft approaches the trajectory of the A320, control asks the Beechcraft to immediately take a 180° heading and the A320 to follow the 360° heading.
When changing course, the Beechcraft pilot lost control of the plane, whose altitude decreased by 3,000 ft in 15 seconds. During this uncontrolled descent, the Beechcraft passed close to another A320, established on final on runway 26L at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
The Beechcraft pilot, after reporting inconsistencies between instruments, is guided by the controller. He managed to land on the ILS of runway 27 at Le Bourget to land without incident.
In its conclusions, the BEA suspects “a subtle incapacity possibly linked to hypoglycemia”. Despite his experience of 11,000 hours of flight, the pilot having eaten little after several flights undertaken the same day, could have suffered disorientation, a consequence of fatigue and an unsuitable diet.
The BEA emphasizes in its report that the pilot's ability to carry out a flight must “be subject to constant surveillance by the pilot himself”. Before undertaking a flight, a pilot “checklist” should be systematically undertaken, such as IMSAFE: Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion.
To read the BEA investigation.
