What happened
On February 26, 2006, a private Piper PA 18-150 Super Cub, registered F-GGLO, was engaged in a training flight when it collided with the ground near the Lus-la-Croix-Haute altisurface. The flight originated from Valence, with the pilot intending to fly over the Super-Dévoluy platform after performing reconnaissance of the Lus-la-Croix-Haute site.
At approximately 11:25, the pilot performed a high-altitude reconnaissance at 500 feet. Following this, the pilot reduced engine power to initiate a left turn and descend toward the landing platform. While attempting a third pass at a very low altitude of approximately 50 feet on a heading of 270°, the aircraft struck the snow-covered terrain. The impact resulted in two injuries (the pilot and one passenger) and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's performance and the pilot's maneuvers during the descent. Examination of the wreckage and the site revealed that the engine was not delivering power at the time of impact. Both fuel tanks were found to contain fuel. The aircraft struck the ground at a low airspeed, with the left wing making contact first.
According to the passenger, the pilot had announced that they were going to crash moments before the impact. The pilot stated that he had intentionally reduced engine power to descend from 500 feet to 50 feet without engaging the carburetor heat, noting his belief that using the heat device caused too much of a reduction in available engine power.