What happened
On June 24, 2015, at approximately 10:30 local time, an AIR CREATION pendular ultralight, identified as 54-AIQ, was performing circuit training at the Chambley Aerodrome. During the first approach, the pilot initiated a go-around, gaining altitude just before the landing phase. This maneuver was observed by a witness on the ground and confirmed by nearby surveillance footage. Following the climb, the pilot executed a right-hand turn of approximately 90 degrees. As the aircraft passed over adjacent hangars, it banked to the left, pitched down, and struck the ground.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft, the pilot's medical history, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Meteorological data from Météo-France indicated good visibility (exceeding 10 km) with scattered clouds at 2,600 ft and light winds from the north.
The pilot, aged 73, had been licensed since 2014 and had accumulated approximately 45 total flight hours. An autopsy was performed, but no medical conditions were identified that could explain the loss of control.
Regarding the aircraft, the wreckage of the 54-AIQ was located roughly five meters from the edge of runway 23R. The aircraft, a 2008 model featuring a GTE TREK 700E trike and an IXESS 15 wing, was equipped with a ballistic parachute, which deployed upon impact. Technical examinations of the wreckage revealed no mechanical failures that could account for the accident.