What happened
On May 2, 2009, a self-designed, weight-shift controlled ultralight aircraft, known as a DPM, was involved in a fatal accident in Lokeren, Belgium. The aircraft, which featured a self-manufactured trike attached to an Air Création FUN 14 wing, took off from a field near the pilot's residence. During the flight, which lasted approximately 15 minutes, the pilot was observed flying at very low altitudes and slow speeds, even dipping below the tops of nearby trees.
While maneuvering over an open field, the pilot performed a tight right turn near a high-voltage power line. During this maneuver, the aircraft dove beneath the electrical lines and descended at an angle between 30 and 45 degrees into a tree-bordered area. The left-hand landing gear struck the ground first, causing the aircraft to break apart and crash approximately five meters further. The pilot sustained fatal injuries upon impact.
The investigation
Investigators from the AAIU(Be) examined the wreckage and the pilot's credentials. The investigation revealed that the aircraft was a custom-built machine with no official registration. The trike component was self-designed and did not meet Belgian regulatory requirements for ultralight aircraft, specifically regarding necessary instrumentation and the presence of a safety belt. Furthermore, the roll bar was found to be structurally inadequate for crashworthiness, appearing designed only to secure the seat rather than absorb impact energy.
The pilot was flying without a valid ultralight pilot authorization, although he had completed training courses in the past. Additionally, the pilot was not wearing a helmet and was not secured by a safety belt at the time of the accident. Meteorological data indicated that weather conditions were otherwise suitable for flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's loss of situational awareness, which led to a descent beneath the high-voltage power lines and a subsequent collision with the terrain.
- The aircraft was a self-designed unit that failed to comply with applicable Belgian safety regulations.
- The pilot did not possess a valid pilot authorization for this type of aircraft.
- The pilot was not wearing a helmet and was not restrained by a safety belt.
- The aircraft's structural design, particularly the roll bar, lacked the necessary capacity to protect the occupant during a high-energy impact.