What happened
On Sunday, March 14, 1999, at 10:00 local time, a two-seat Air Création GTE 503 SL ultralight, identified as 03-JE, was performing a local flight at the Saint-Gal-sur-Sioule ultralight platform. Following an initial landing, the pilot took off again to perform a circuit of the airfield.
During the final approach, the aircraft's flight path converged with the runway at an angle that took it directly over a six-meter-tall hangar located at the edge of the airfield. The right main landing gear struck the hangar roof, which subsequently caused the propeller to strike the structure, resulting in the breakage of two propeller blades. The impact left the aircraft severely unbalanced, causing it to continue its descent until the landing gear struck the runway with significant force, bringing the aircraft to a stop.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the pilot's reaction during the approach. Investigators noted that the weather conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km, light winds, and temperatures of 12 °C. The pilot, aged 19, had relatively limited experience, with only 20 total flight hours, 11 of which were performed in a dual-instruction capacity.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained heavy damage as a result of the collision.
- The primary cause of the accident was decision inhibition during an unstabilized final approach.
- A witness reported that the pilot expressed feelings of intense anxiety when approaching the hangar, an emotional state that prevented the pilot from taking corrective action to avoid the obstacle.