What happened
On the evening of July 26, 1998, a weight-shift ultralight aircraft, identified as 53-DD, was conducting a local flight near Livré-la-Touche. The pilot was returning from Saint-Brévin-les-Pins and intended to perform a low-level pass in front of his residence.
During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced an unexpected descent. The pilot attempted to apply power to recover the altitude, but the aircraft struck a utility pole approximately 10 meters in height. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and caused injuries to both the pilot and the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight conditions and the pilot's maneuvers leading up to the impact. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were favorable, characterized by calm winds and CAVOK visibility. The investigation noted that the pilot had initiated the pass at an altitude of 500 feet with a QNH setting of 1020 hPa.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was low-altitude maneuvering.
- The pilot's attempt to correct a loss of altitude via power application was insufficient to avoid the obstacle once the descent had begun.