What happened
On October 18, 2003, a Peña Bilouim amateur-built aircraft, registration F-PABD, was performing aerobatic maneuvers over the Saint-Pierre Pierrefonds aerodrome. The pilot, seated in the rear cockpit, was accompanied by one passenger. After a 35-minute aerobatic session, the pilot executed a series of rapid rolls, banking the aircraft significantly from left to right, before announcing the end of the session via radio.
Following this announcement, the AFIS controller observed the aircraft positioned near the runway 15 upwind leg. The controller provided the necessary landing parameters and instructed the pilot to report back on the final approach for runway 33. The pilot acknowledged these instructions and confirmed he would call back on final. Shortly after the controller lost visual contact with the aircraft, the plane struck the surface of the sea.
Witnesses on the ground described the aircraft performing a sudden, high-banked left turn that transitioned into an inverted position, pitching toward the water. The aircraft appeared to attempt a recovery maneuver just before the impact. Witnesses also noted that the engine appeared to be operating at maximum power during the final moments of the flight.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the wreckage and the flight parameters leading to the impact. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies; the flaps were retracted, and the engine was producing power at the time of the collision. Structural deformations and fractures indicated that the aircraft was in a nearly level wing attitude with a slight nose-down pitch during the impact. The only recoverable instrument data was from the rear seat anemometer, which was found stuck at 120 km/h due to the impact.
Witness accounts suggested that the aircraft remained under control throughout the final maneuvers and that the maneuvers were performed under positive load factors without stalling. While the pilot had previously noted an involuntary stall during the session caused by the passenger's input, toxicological and autopsy results for both occupants showed no abnormalities.