What happened
On November 4, 2008, at approximately 11:30 AM, a Comco Ikar_us C 42 B Club ultralight, identified as 65-LM, was conducting a flight from the private Luquet aerodrome toward the Vallon des Bergons altisurface. During the approach to runway 33, the pilot communicated intentions to enter the base and final legs via the self-information frequency.
Witnesses on the ground, including the aerodrome owner, observed the aircraft performing wide, sweeping turns and sideslips. The aircraft was noted to be flying below the standard 7% glide path used for this specific airfield. As the aircraft reached the short final segment, the aerodrome owner attempted to advise the pilot via radio to increase engine power. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft experienced a stall and struck the ground approximately 30 meters before the runway threshold, resulting in heavy damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the pilot's maneuvers during the final approach. It was established that the pilot had not deployed the flaps and had intended to execute an