What happened
On September 5, 2006, at 17:35, a Safari GT BI weight-shift ultralight, identified as 21-MN, crashed during its initial climb from a communal football field in Damparis. The pilot, who owned the aircraft, was using the field as an occasional takeoff and landing site adjacent to his residence.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft veered sharply to the right. At an altitude of approximately ten meters, the aircraft struck a tree, which caused it to sever a medium-voltage power line. The aircraft then struck another tree before ultimately impacting the ground in a residential area. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the takeoff site, the aircraft's performance, and the pilot's recent flight history. Investigators noted that the pilot had received provisional authorization from the local municipality the day before the accident to use the field, provided that ultralight regulations were followed.
An analysis of the aircraft's flight manual indicated that a distance of 87 meters is required to clear a 15-meter obstacle during takeoff. In this instance, the tree struck by the aircraft was located only 68 meters from the takeoff point. Furthermore, the pilot had improvised a windsock using a pole and cloth, which was positioned lower than the surrounding tree canopy, making it impossible to accurately assess wind conditions above the obstacles.
The pilot had not flown for approximately two years due to health issues, and it could not be determined if these issues played a role in the accident. Additionally, the pilot had not flown with an instructor prior to this flight and had unilaterally decided to use the field as a landing site without consulting other pilots.