What happened
On September 27, 2016, a Van's Aircraft RV-8, registration F-WLFV, was conducting flight testing in Saint-Ambroix, France. The pilot, an amateur builder, was performing maneuvers to finalize the aircraft's certification. Following an earlier flight that included several barrel rolls, the crew—consisting of the pilot and an aviation mechanic acting as a passenger—performed maintenance on the engine's ventilation system to address overheating issues.
During a subsequent local flight, the aircraft was observed performing low-altitude passes near a residence. Witnesses reported that the aircraft entered a 180-degree left turn while climbing, followed by a slight descent and a vertical climb. As the aircraft reached the top of the climb, its airspeed dropped to zero, and it transitioned into an inverted position while rotating around its longitudinal axis. The aircraft then fell vertically, striking a large stack of straw bales. The impact triggered an intense fire that consumed the wreckage, resulting in two fatalities.