History of the Flight
The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, departed Albertville aerodrome (Savoie) at approximately 08:30 local time, bound for Val Thorens mountain airstrip. After overflying the airstrip at around 09:15, the pilot flew outbound and joined the left-hand base leg at an estimated altitude of about 8,530 ft. Shortly thereafter, the microlight collided with sloping terrain below the threshold of runway 10.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The microlight, a TECNAM P92 ECHO CLUB identified as 73TH, was purchased new in 2018 by three co-owners, including the pilot. It had accumulated 850 flight hours and was equipped with a Rotax 912 UL 80-hp piston engine. Examination found no technical failure prior to impact. The 63-year-old pilot held a microlight pilot certificate (2005) and a microlight instructor rating. His total experience was estimated at 800 hours, with about 400 hours on type. He was familiar with mountain airstrips but had not completed the French microlight federation's mountain flight training program. He also held a private pilot license without a mountain rating.
Meteorological and Airstrip Conditions
At the time of the accident, weather at Val Thorens was sunny and cloudless, with an outside air temperature of 14°C. Wind meters near the site recorded a southerly wind (170°) of nearly 20 kt, constant for several hours. The airstrip operator reported a "strong" southerly wind. The Val Thorens airstrip, situated at 8,100 ft, has an unpaved runway 10/28 measuring 370 m by 15 m with an average 8% gradient. The circuit is flown from a left-hand base leg at 8,300 ft, and a missed approach involves breaking away to the left. At the time of the accident, the airstrip information sheet did not include wind recommendations.
Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the pilot likely encountered severe downdrafts and turbulence during final approach due to the strong southerly wind, forcing a missed approach. The microlight then collided with terrain while the pilot attempted to break away to the left. Contributing factors may have included insufficient consideration of aerological conditions during flight preparation and inadequate assessment of conditions during the reconnaissance phase.