What happened
On 25 August 2019, a Jodel D1s microlight, registration 89WP, was performing a private cross-country flight from Pont-sur-Yonne to the La Selle-en-Hermoy microlight strip. Upon arrival, the pilot conducted a low pass over the runway to inspect the strip before commencing a final approach for runway 22.
As the aircraft passed power lines approximately 400 meters from the threshold, the pilot experienced a loss of control. An eyewitness observed the aircraft adopt a steep nose-up attitude, veer left perpendicular to the runway centerline, and roll toward the left wing before stalling. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground in a nose-down attitude in a harvested field roughly 370 meters upstream from the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and the site, finding no evidence of mechanical or technical failure. The engine, fuel system, carburetor, and electrical components, including the battery and magneto, were all functional. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's regulatory status, noting that while the aircraft was originally an airplane, it had been re-registered as a microlight with a declared stall speed of 65 km/h. However, the manufacturer's original specifications indicated a stall speed of 80 km/h at maximum weight.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's medical history and the environmental conditions. On the day of the accident, the temperature was 33°C with light winds providing a tailwind component for runway 22. The investigation revealed that the pilot suffered from advanced chronic bronchopulmonary disease and impaired mobility, which likely impacted his physiological capacity to operate the aircraft under such heat.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the accident:
- The pilot's decision to fly despite serious chronic pathologies that could have impaired performance, especially given the high ambient temperature.
- The selection of an approach speed on final that was too close to the aircraft's stall speed, an attempt to minimize the landing distance.
- A lack of awareness regarding the aerodynamic consequences of operating an aircraft with a stall speed exceeding the standard requirements for microlight certification.