What happened
On 26 October 2018, a two-seat MD03 TD microlight, identified as 13SQ, departed from Salon Eyguières aerodrome for a cross-country flight to Nîmes Courbessac. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and one passenger.
During the flight, witnesses observed the aircraft passing over their property at an altitude estimated between 500 and 1,000 feet. Shortly after, they heard the engine misfiring, followed by an explosion and a visible column of smoke. The aircraft subsequently impacted a vineyard approximately seven kilometers west of Beaucaire. The impact was followed by a fire that destroyed the aircraft. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the wreckage, the engine, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The wreckage was found grouped together in an agricultural area, which was noted to be unsuitable for a precautionary landing due to the presence of vines and fruit trees. Due to the intense fire following the impact, the aircraft was largely destroyed, and the engine was too degraded for an exhaustive mechanical examination. While no specific mechanical failures were identified, the investigators could not verify the status of the carburetor heat system.
Meteorological data indicated that the area was experiencing high humidity and heavy cloud cover. A thick layer of subsidence was present, with low stratus clouds likely covering the eastern slope of the Garons plateau. Medical examinations of the occupants found no physical anomalies that would explain the accident, though the possibility of pilot incapacitation could not be entirely ruled out.
Findings
- The aircraft's engine was a 100 hp Rotax 912S, which utilizes a carburetor heat system to prevent or clear icing.
- Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident, characterized by high humidity and specific temperature/dewpoint levels, presented a significant risk of carburetor icing.
- The aircraft's glide ratio, which is relatively low at 8:1 with the engine shut down, left the pilot with very limited time and few options for a safe emergency landing once the engine issues began.