What happened
On August 22, 2009, at 12:15 local time, a Savannah ADV-S ultralight aircraft, registration 27-VR, departed from the Havre-Saint-Romand airfield. The pilot, who had recently secured a hangar space at this airfield, was flying toward Etrépagny.
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot flew south toward the village of Saint-Vigor-d’Ymonville to fly over a relative's home, located less than 5 NM from the departure airfield. Witnesses observed the aircraft performing two 360-degree turns at a low altitude over the residential area. Following these turns, the aircraft climbed vertically; witnesses noted an increase in engine RPM during this phase but reported no engine malfunctions. After the climb, the aircraft turned left and descended almost vertically, striking the ground with a steep nose-down attitude. The impact resulted in one fatality and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the maneuvers performed over the populated area. Investigators reviewed witness accounts, which indicated that the pilot had flown over the village houses on several previous occasions without incident. The investigation also considered the pilot's background, noting he had held his ultralight pilot license since September 2007.
Findings
- The accident was caused by the decision to perform low-altitude maneuvers over a residential area, during which the pilot likely lost control of the aircraft's trajectory.
- The pilot's recent acquisition of a hangar space at the departure airfield may have served as a contributing factor, potentially motivating the performance of these maneuvers.