What happened
On 22 August 2020, a LAMBERT - MISSION M106-MK1-TD microlight, registration 63ASZ, was performing a cross-country flight near Ceyssat, France. The pilot intended to land in a field that had been scouted on foot previously. To assist with the approach, the pilot had installed two homemade windsocks in the field the day before.
During the approach, the pilot performed a descending U-turn at a low altitude to align with the field. Shortly before the intended touchdown, the aircraft's speed dropped from 80 to 50 km/h, causing the aircraft to sink and strike the ground with significant force. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce. In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied full power and increased the aircraft's pitch; however, the microlight failed to gain sufficient altitude or airspeed. The aircraft veered to the right and collided with trees bordering the field, resulting in the destruction of the microlight and one passenger seriously injured.
The investigation
The investigation analyzed flight data from the onboard engine computers and GNSS, as well as the wreckage and meteorological conditions. Investigators examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's performance capabilities, and the configuration of the field. The engine was found to be operating normally until the collision with the trees, and no mechanical anomalies were identified in the wreckage.
Findings
- The pilot's perception of the wind was likely incorrect because the warning tape used for the windsocks may have become entangled in nearby vegetation, leading to an undetected significant tailwind component.
- The pilot's approach was unstable, with only approximately 15 seconds available to stabilize the final leg after the U-turn.
- The failed go-around was caused by a combination of low airspeed following the ground bounce, the use of full flaps during the climb attempt, and the presence of a tailwind.
- The upward slope of the field and the proximity of obstacles likely prompted a high pitch attitude, which further degraded the aircraft's climb gradient and led to the loss of control.