TBM-700 down in Burgundy, 6 dead

[CelticRambler]

Six people have died in a plane crash in France's central Burgundy region. The nationalities of the dead were not yet clear on Tuesday afternoon. The plane crashed into a field a little after 11:00am on Tuesday near the village of Mouffy, near to Auxerre. The single-engine TBM-700 plane was registered in the United States and was flying between Annecy, a tourist destination in the French Alps, and Toussus-le-Noble, a small airport in Paris's western suburbs.
Six die in plane crash in France - France - RFI (http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20131119-6-died-plane-crash-france-usa)

Additional reporting in Le Figaro (http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2013/11/19/01016-20131119ARTFIG00479-le-crash-d-un-avion-de-tourisme-fait-six-morts-dans-l-yonne.php) states that the impact spread debris 300m from the site and no bodies have been recovered from the scene.

[FLEXJET]

Aircraft was cruising at FL180. N115KC was sn 239, a 2002 model.

The accident location was just south of Auxerre.

http://www.gcmap.com/map?P=lflp-lfla-lfpn&MS=wls&MR=30&MX=720x360&PM=*

[Hotel Tango]

Coincidentally, this morning I was watching an AOPA accident case study video of a TBM 700 accident in the USA which occured in December 2011. It was caused by severe icing experienced at FL180 (on the climb). Just wondering if this one was also an icing problem.

[fleigle]

Hotel Tango,
I too just saw that report.
I have an interest in the TBM's as my daughter-in-law flies them.
Over here in the US the insurance companies have started to insist on recurrent training for TBM pilots after a few crashes.
f

[WTON]

The second one in less than one year in France.

[ouioui]

Dear FLEXJET,

Do you have access to the original FPL ? Because I am wondering if they were flying IFR, and FL180 sounds so much VFR flight...

[FLEXJET]

FL180 is definitely an IFR level, and the flight plan was IG (IFR, General aviation).

[ouioui]

Thanks for the confirmation. I meant below 195 sounds VFR, forgetting the destination was LFPN.

[BlueVolta]

FL180 near Auxerre when inbound to Paris TMA with a turboprop is a normal level.

I doubt that somebody will fly VFR with a TBM inbound Paris, too complicate with an IFR equiped airplane.

[pelosh]

It seems this TBM and the one that went down in August are registered to the same trust.....
Anybody knows the operator?

[pelosh]

Many things have changed since I left the good old Europe....
How can you rent a "N" aircraft to a European licence holder?
I don't see mention of an AOC anywhere, How can they rent a plane with pilot...sound a bit like charter to me....