What happened
On Sunday, January 24, 1999, at approximately 14:30, a Steen Skybolt biplane, registered F-WTBS, was engaged in a private flight near Roquelaure, France. The pilot, who was a co-owner of the aircraft, was performing a handling flight. During the flight, the pilot was in radio contact with the other aircraft owner, who remained on the ground at the Auch aerodrome.
The owner on the ground requested that the pilot perform an inverted pass over the aerodrome facilities on a heading of 190 degrees. To avoid interfering with another aircraft operating within the aerodrome traffic pattern, the pilot chose to approach on an axis to the right of the runway. During this maneuver, the pilot was blinded by the sun. As a result of the glare, the pilot only noticed trees in the flight path at the last moment, leading to a collision with the treetops. Despite the impact, the pilot maintained control of the aircraft and managed to perform an emergency landing.
The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft, specifically heavy damage to the upper wing and a torn left horizontal stabilizer. There were also minor damages to third-party property.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the flight maneuver and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the pilot's experience, noting the pilot had 780 total flight hours, with 21 hours on this specific type. Meteorological conditions at the site were recorded as clear skies with visibility exceeding 10 km, light winds from 340° at 4 to 6 knots, and a specific solar position that contributed to the glare.