What happened
On the evening of September 30, 2023, a Super Guépard 912 ULS microlight, registration 12HP, crashed near the Dragey-Ronthon microlight base. The flight originated from Villefranche-de-Rouergue, where the pilot had stopped to undergo repairs on the aircraft's landing gear.
After departing Villefranche-de-Rouergue at 17:00, the pilot flew a cross-country route toward Dragey. As the flight progressed into the aeronautical night, the pilot's visibility decreased significantly. Text messages sent to a family member indicated that the pilot could no longer see anything and requested that the runway be illuminated with car headlights.
During the arrival phase, the pilot attempted three missed approaches. On the fourth runway circuit, the engine ceased operation. Although the pilot activated the aircraft's airframe parachute, the deployment was incomplete due to insufficient altitude. The aircraft struck the ground in a nose-down attitude and overturned, resulting in the fatal injury of the pilot and the destruction of the microlight.