What happened
On the evening of September 5, 2015, a Brügger MB2 Colibri, registration F-PSUR, was performing local circuit patterns at Haguenau airfield. The pilot departed from the unpaved runway 21 for a series of maneuvers. Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft performing several circuits, noting that some of these, including the final one, were flown at altitudes significantly lower than the standard 1,0-00 ft pattern. During the final departure from runway 21, the aircraft entered a right-hand turn and disappeared behind a hangar. The aircraft was subsequently located approximately 200 meters from the threshold of the opposite unpaved runway, 03.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the wreckage, the pilot's experience, and the aircraft's handling characteristics. Examination of the wreckage indicated that the aircraft struck the ground with a slight nose-down pitch, a slight right bank, and a heading of approximately 80 degrees. The propeller showed evidence of significant engine power at the moment of impact, and flight controls were found to be fully functional with no mechanical anomalies detected.
Investigators noted that the pilot had recently acquired the aircraft, having purchased it on August 13, 2015. While the pilot was an experienced aviator with various licenses, he had only 8 hours and 38 minutes of flight time in this specific aircraft. Furthermore, flight data from the pilot's electronic tablet confirmed a pattern of performing low-altitude circuits at Haguenau, often on the opposite side of the published traffic pattern.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the accident. The aircraft, an amateur-built single-seater, is known for having small dimensions that can induce non-standard yaw behavior during turns, potentially leading to slips. The investigation determined that the loss of control likely occurred at a low altitude during a maneuver.
Whether the pilot was performing a low-altitude circuit for runway 21 or attempting a low-level pass over runway 03, the maneuver likely required a steeper bank angle than standard procedures. This increased workload, combined with potential turbulence near the airfield's trees and hangars, may have led to a loss of flight symmetry. The pilot's limited experience with the specific handling characteristics of the F-PSUR was also a contributing factor.