What happened
On August 25, 2019, at approximately 11:35 local time, a TeST TST-8 motor glider, registration 83ALU, crashed near Romilly-sur-Seine, France. The aircraft, operated privately, was performing a local flight. The pilot, flying solo, took off from a private ultralight airfield. During the initial climb, an observer noted that the aircraft had a shallow climb gradient. As the pilot attempted a left turn during a crosswind leg, the aircraft lost control at a low altitude and struck the ground behind a line of trees.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage located in a field approximately 250 meters from the end of the grass runway. The aircraft was found resting on its back with a nose-down attitude and a leftward tilt. Investigators confirmed that the flight control cables were intact prior to impact and found no anomalies in the airspeed system. The engine was in the extended position, and evidence indicated the propeller was rotating at the time of impact. The aircraft's emergency parachute was not deployed, as the pilot did not activate the handle.
Regarding the pilot, the 66-year-old individual held a valid private pilot license for airplanes but had no specific training or certification for ultralight (ULM) or glider aircraft. This flight was his first time operating this specific type. Furthermore, the pilot had personally reassembled the 83ALU during the summer of 2019 after purchasing it in a disassembled state; however, the flight manual and relevant documentation were not available for review.
Findings
- The pilot lost control of the aircraft during a crosswind turn.
- The low altitude of the maneuver prevented the pilot from recovering the aircraft before the collision with the ground.
- The pilot's decision to fly the aircraft without prior training on the specific performance characteristics of this motor glider, or without guidance from an experienced instructor, contributed to the accident.