What happened
On February 12, 2004, at 17:45, an Ultralair Weedhopper AX 3 16 (identified as 31-AQ) was conducting a local flight departing from Muret aerodrome. The pilot, intending to perform circuit patterns, diverted northwest to an altitude of 1,500 feet to avoid another aircraft present in the traffic pattern. The pilot proceeded to a private field near Sainte-Foy-de-Peyrolières to survey a landing site used occasionally as an ultralight platform.
During the reconnaissance, the pilot initiated an approach to runway 30, which included a go-around. While flying low over a hedge approximately 100 meters from the field, the aircraft's nose gear struck a medium-voltage power line situated near the edge of the landing area. The impact severed the line and damaged the aircraft's main landing gear. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing on the field, approximately 100 meters away from the site of the collision.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the pilot's decision-making regarding the low-altitude flight and the visibility conditions. The investigation established that the pilot was aware of the power line's location but was significantly affected by the low angle of the sun (5 degrees) and the resulting glare, which obscured the hazard during the maneuver.