On 23 August 1987, Pironi was killed in an accident in the Needles Trophy Race near the Isle of Wight, that also took the life of his two crew members: journalist Bernard Giroux and his old friend Jean-Claude Guénard.
O 23 de agosto de 1987, Pironi morreu nun accidente no Needles Trophy Race preto da Illa de Wight, que tamén se cobrou a vida dos seus dous compañeiros de tripulación, o xornalista Bernard Giroux e o seu vello amigo Jean-Claude Guenard.