What happened
On August 28, 2016, an Aeroprakt A2/22 ultralight, registration 65-QV, departed from Blois for Tarbes-Laloubère. The flight, which included the pilot and one passenger, proceeded without incident for approximately two hours and forty minutes. As the aircraft approached the destination, the pilot contacted air traffic control to report an altitude of 2,500 feet and indicated an intention to enter the control zone via a standard entry point.
As the aircraft neared the airfield, weather conditions significantly deteriorated. The pilot reported difficulty maintaining visual contact with the airfield, and radio communications became increasingly difficult to hear. Despite instructions from the controller to change course toward Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées, the aircraft's communications ceased. At approximately 21:04, the aircraft was no longer responding to controller inquiries. The wreckage was later discovered in a forest approximately 3 nautical miles from the destination airfield.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's flight path and the environmental conditions at the time of the impact. Examination of the wreckage showed no mechanical failures, and the aircraft had approximately 20 liters of fuel remaining, which would have supported over an hour of additional flight. While the aircraft was equipped with a parachute, it was not deployed.
Witnesses near the crash site reported observing the ultralight flying through poor weather, characterized by low clouds, light rain, and fading light. One witness noted the aircraft appeared to be performing several turns. The investigation also noted that the pilot had not reviewed the latest meteorological information prior to the flight and had decided to continue toward the destination despite the approaching night and worsening visibility.
Findings
- The pilot elected to continue the flight into an environment with deteriorating weather and low visibility.
- The aircraft encountered multiple cloud layers, forcing the pilot into several circles for approximately ten minutes in an attempt to find an exit.
- The pilot did not formally request assistance or declare an emergency to the controller.
- Stress from the challenging environment and fatigue from the duration of the flight likely impaired the pilot's decision-making capabilities.
- Under the prevailing VFR conditions, it was impossible to fly directly to the destination airfield without encountering obstacles.