What happened
On the afternoon of October 28, 2001, an I.C.P. MX 740 Savannah microlight, identified as 83-RB, crashed into the western slope of the La Séranne mountain near Saint-Maurice-Navacelles. The flight originated from Condom at approximately 11:00 AM, with the intended destination being Vinon-sur-Verdon.
As the aircraft crossed the Causse du Larzac, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions. To maintain visual contact with the ground, the pilot likely descended to a lower altitude, which ultimately led to a high-speed collision with the terrain at approximately 700 meters. The impact occurred while the aircraft was traveling at a speed of roughly 130 km/h. The pilot was killed in the accident, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation involved a detailed analysis of the wreckage and the flight path. Investigators recovered a GPS unit from the debris, which allowed for the reconstruction of the complete flight trajectory. This data confirmed that the aircraft was following the pilot's planned route at the time of impact.
Examination of the crash site and the wreckage indicated that the aircraft struck the terrain in a horizontal trajectory without a prior loss of control. While witnesses at the departure airfield in Condom reported favorable VFR conditions earlier in the day, witnesses near the accident site noted that low clouds were obscuring the nearby mountain peaks at the time of the crash. No meteorological documentation was found within the wreckage.