What happened
On August 11, 2005, at approximately 13:30, a paramotor, identified as 78-VA, was engaged in a local flight near Isserteaux, France. The pilot had departed from the Tinhlat ultralight airfield earlier that morning, intending to fly toward Ambert, located roughly 40 kilometers away.
While navigating near a hill, approximately nine kilometers from the departure point, the aircraft was observed flying at an extremely low altitude of about fifteen meters. A witness reported seeing the right edge of the wing deflate and collapse. Following this loss of lift, the ITV Tomahawk 2 entered a spin and struck the ground at the locality known as "le Theil."
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aerodynamic stability of the wing and the mechanical integrity of the engine. Post-accident examinations of both the engine and the wing structure revealed no mechanical failures or technical malfunctions.
Meteorological data collected at the site indicated winds from 350° at 9 to 13 knots, with gusts reaching between 19 and 23 knots. The investigation also noted that a paramotor flight instructor present at the departure airfield had specifically advised the pilot against flying that day, citing that the gusty conditions were unsafe for this specific type of ultralight aircraft.
Findings
The investigation established that the primary cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to proceed with the flight despite unsafe wind conditions. The presence of wind rotors created on the leeward side of the hill likely caused the right side of the wing to deflate, leading to an asymmetric stall. Due to the extremely low altitude at which the aircraft was flying, the pilot had insufficient time or height to recover control before the impact. The accident resulted in one fatality.