Reims F172 and Commander 114 mid-air collision near Commune De Brethencourt, Fr, September 8, 2009
On September 8, 2009 at about 12:40 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Reims F172 (FBXIU) and Commander 114 (GDANT), were involved in a mid-air collision near Commune De Brethencourt. 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Under the jurisdiction and control of the French government.
Under the jurisdiction and control of the French government.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2009 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Commune De Brethencourt, France
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft 1
- Reims F172
- Registration
- FBXIU · no longer on the register · serial 1351
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · non-U.S. private rules
- Aircraft 2
- Commander 114
- Registration
- GDANT · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative for the Reims F172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 8, 2009, at 1240 coordinated universal time, a Commander 114, United Kingdom-registered G-DANT, and a Reims F172, French-registered F-BXIU, collided in mid-air near Commune de Brethencourt, France. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and one passenger in G-DANT were not injured. The student pilot and flight instructor aboard F-BXIU were fatally injured. According to investigators the two airplanes collided while in flight at 1,500 feet in class G airspace. The Commander 114 performed a forced landing to a field and sustained substantial damage during the collision. The Reims F172 departed controlled flight and was destroyed when it impacted terrain. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the French government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the French government or Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses Zone Sud 200 rue de Paris Aêroport du Bourget 93350 Le Bourget Cedex France
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Commander 114 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 8, 2009, at 1240 coordinated universal time, a Commander 114, United Kingdom-registered G-DANT, and a Reims F172, French-registered F-BXIU, collided in mid-air near Commune de Brethencourt, France. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and one passenger in G-DANT were not injured. The student pilot and flight instructor aboard F-BXIU were fatally injured. According to investigators the two airplanes collided while in flight at 1,500 feet in class G airspace. The Commander 114 performed a forced landing to a field and sustained substantial damage during the collision. The Reims F172 departed controlled flight and was destroyed when it impacted terrain. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the French government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the French government or Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses Zone Sud 200 rue de Paris Aêroport du Bourget 93350 Le Bourget Cedex France
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Reims F172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Other authority investigated
Flight instructor
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: LFPN Toussus-Lenoble
- Destination: LFPN Toussus-Lenoble
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Commander 114 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Crew member
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: LFPL Lognes
- Destination: LFRD Dinard
- Flight plan: not recorded
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.