What happened
On 0lamarch 2021, at approximately 15:40, a private flight involving an ITV Boxer 2S paramotor, identified as 95AHL, ended in a fatal accident at the Persan-Beaumont aerodrome in France. The pilot was performing local maneuvers within the area reserved for paramotors. After approximately 20 minutes of flight, witnesses observed the aircraft enter a spiral dive with high vertical speed, eventually colliding with the ground. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the destruction of the paramotor.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and the pilot's medical history to determine the cause of the loss of control. The investigation found that the engine, a Vittorazi Moster 185, was functioning normally at the time of impact, and the wing showed no signs of structural failure or prior damage. The wreckage indicated the aircraft struck the ground in a nose-down attitude with a left bank angle.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's medical background. It was noted that the pilot had recently suffered from paroxysmal positional vertigo, a condition characterized by episodes of dizziness and false sensations of movement triggered by head movements. Although the pilot had completed annual health questionnaires for his federation, he had experienced a loss of consciousness at work several months prior to the accident. While a requested autopsy could not be performed to confirm an in-flight medical event, the investigation focused on how such a condition could lead to the observed flight path.