What happened
On the evening of July 18, 2006, a Robin Cap 10 B, registered F-GGYK, was conducting a local flight near the Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron aerodrome. The flight was operated by a flying club and carried two occupants: the pilot and a passenger.
After approximately thirty minutes of flight around the Île de Ré, the pilot notified the airfield frequency of his intention to return to the aerodrome for an approach to runway 10. Shortly after, the pilot announced he would perform a low pass. Witnesses on the ground, including several pilots, observed the aircraft approaching from the west at an altitude of approximately 50 feet, positioned between the runway centerline and the aircraft parking area.
While attempting a 45-degree loop, the aircraft struck the ground approximately 100 meters from the parking area. At the moment of impact, the aircraft was in a steep nose-down attitude of roughly 70 degrees. Witnesses noted that the engine was still running at the time of the collision and that the flight path appeared controlled until the impact.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage of the Robin Cap 10 B and found no mechanical anomalies or technical failures that could have contributed to the accident. The engine was confirmed to be operational up to the point of impact.
Data retrieved from the electronic accelerometer indicated that the aircraft had experienced accelerations below the authorized limits during the maneuver. Eyewitness testimony from an instructor on the ground suggested that the aircraft appeared to enter the maneuver with insufficient airspeed to safely complete the intended aerobatic figure.