What happened
On 1 September 2018, two microlights were performing a cross-country return flight near Valencisse, France, following an aviation gathering. The aircraft, an ICP Savannah VG (registration 57YM) and a Buse’Air 150 (registration 75WQ), had agreed to fly in formation, with the 57YM following the 75WQ.
During the flight, the pilot of the 57YM lost visual contact with the lead aircraft. Unable to establish radio communication with the other pilot, the pilot of the 57YM attempted to regain sight of the lead aircraft by climbing. During this ascent, the propeller and the right wing's leading edge of the 57YM struck the tailplane of the 75WQ.
The impact caused the engine of the 57YM to fail, sending the aircraft into a right-hand spin. Although the pilot of the 57YM managed to recover from the spin after a loss of approximately 1,000 feet, the aircraft subsequently collided with the ground in a residential garden. The pilot of the 57YM sustained one injury, and the microlight was destroyed. The pilot and passenger of the 75WQ felt the impact but were able to land the aircraft safely in a field with substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage of both aircraft, flight paths recorded via mobile phones, and statements from the pilots and a witness on the ground. The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the loss of visual contact and the technical state of the aircraft.
Investigators noted that the 57YM was not equipped with anti-collision lights or an emergency parachute. The examination of the 57YM wreckage confirmed damage to the propeller blades and the right wing leading edge, with traces of red paint from the 75WQ rudder found at the impact site. The investigation also reviewed the radio settings, noting that the pilot of the 57YM had attempted to use a nearby frequency to re-establish contact.