What happened
On the morning of 28 April 2021, a private flex-wing microlight, identified as 67CBG, was performing a local flight at the Envol Ulm Alsace microlight strip in Marckolsheim, France. The pilot, an experienced member of the local flying association, had arrived at the airfield early that morning to prepare for flight. During the approach to runway 36, the aircraft struck a grove of trees approximately 360 meters south of the runway threshold. The impact with the vegetation was followed by a collision with the ground, resulting in the destruction of the microlight and the fatal injury of the pilot.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and the site of the accident, noting that the aircraft's components were scattered in a field upstream of the final impact point. Investigators found impact marks on the trees that followed a descending path toward the microlight strip. Analysis of the airframe revealed that while the left wing section sustained minor deformation, the right section suffered heavy structural damage. The investigation confirmed that the engine, fuel system, and flight control cables were all fully functional and showed no signs of failure prior to the impact.
Examination of the aircraft's instruments, including a vertical speed indicator and an altimeter, established that the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 320 meters during the flight. Meteorological data from Météo-France indicated favorable flying conditions, with clear skies (CAVOK) and light winds. Furthermore, a medical autopsy of the pilot revealed no physiological factors that could have contributed to the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft collided with a grove of trees located on the approach path to runway 36.
- There were no mechanical or technical failures identified in the engine, fuel system, or flight controls.
- The aircraft was flying at a low horizontal speed at the time of the final ground contact.
- The investigation could not establish the specific flight path or the exact cause of the deviation from the standard approach pattern due to a lack of witnesses and flight data.