What happened
On 18 June 2022, a paramotor microlight, identified as 68AKY, was conducting a local flight near Niort, France. The pilot took off at approximately 21:00 from a field west of the town. Following takeoff, the pilot performed maneuvers at altitudes not exceeding 300 feet for roughly three minutes before climbing to approximately 1,800 feet. After flying for 22 minutes, the pilot descended to perform further maneuvers at altitudes between 100 and 250 feet.
At approximately 21:31, the aircraft's onboard Syride computer recorded its last position at an altitude of 419 feet. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft collided with the ground in a sunflower field. A passerby discovered the wreckage around 21:55, noting that the engine was still running. The collision resulted in one fatality and the destruction of the paramotor microlight.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft, the flight data, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The paramotor consisted of a titanium alloy frame equipped with a Vittorazi Moster 185 plus engine and a 23 m² NIVIUK QUBIK wing. Investigators found that the damage to the harness and engine assembly was consistent with a ground impact. The propeller blades ruptured upon contact with the ground, and the emergency parachute remained undeployed in its housing.
Examination of the wing revealed no major faults or structural issues that contributed to the accident. The wing was found in a symmetric, untrimmed configuration, which is a "maximum speed" setting that increases responsiveness to pilot inputs. Meteorological data indicated that the area was under a red heatwave warning and an amber thunderstorm warning. At the time of the flight, winds were gusting between 17 and 25 knots, with thunderstorms approaching from the south.
Findings
- The pilot was performing maneuvers at a very low altitude, which left no margin for error to recover from an unexpected event.
- The cause of the loss of control could not be definitively established.
- Stormy weather conditions and high wind gusts may have contributed to the loss of control.