What happened
On 16 October 2021, a VL3 microlight, identified as 88PP, was performing a local flight from Beaune-Challanges aerodrome. The flight was a spontaneous decision made after the pilot's original aircraft, a flex-wing microlight, had been reserved by another club member.
Shortly after departing from runway 02, the aircraft entered a steep nose-up attitude. Witnesses observed the microlight climbing sharply before entering a left-hand spin. The aircraft struck the ground nearly flat at a low altitude, causing the airframe to burst into flames. The impact and subsequent fire were intense enough to prevent bystanders from assisting the occupants. The crash resulted in two fatalities (the pilot and the passenger) and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage, which was found in a field approximately 120 meters left of the runway centerline. Investigators confirmed that the engine was operating at the time of impact and that the flight controls remained functional. The aircraft was equipped with an airframe parachute; however, the investigation determined that the parachute rocket was not deployed by the crew, but was instead launched by the force of the post-impact fire.
Medical examinations of the pilot revealed the presence of diffuse coronary artery disease. While the investigation could not definitively prove the cause of the sudden pitch-up, investigators considered whether the maneuver was caused by a technical malfunction or pilot incapacitation due to the underlying heart condition.
Findings
- The aircraft entered a left-hand spin during the initial climb, leaving insufficient altitude for recovery.
- The pilot may have experienced incapacitation due to undiagnosed coronary artery disease, which can be triggered by the physiological stresses of takeoff.
- The investigation could not rule out a technical malfunction as a cause for the steep nose-up attitude.
- The airframe parachute was activated unintentionally by the post-impact fire, posing a secondary risk to people near the wreckage.