What happened
On Monday, December 14, at 11:30 AM, a Cosmos Phase 2 Top 12.9 ultralight aircraft, identified as 21-OH, departed from the Dijon Darois aerodrome for a circuit pattern as part of a local flight. The weather conditions at the time were favorable, characterized by CAVOK (ceiling and visibility OK) and light winds.
As the aircraft approached the final approach, the pilot reduced engine power. Shortly before touchdown, the pilot attempted a go-around by increasing power. During this maneuver, the aircraft pitched nose-down and struck the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce before coming to a halt, at which point the airframe caught fire. Both the pilot and the passenger managed to escape the wreckage, but both sustained severe burns.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the go-around maneuver and the flight's operational context. Investigators examined the pilot's experience levels and the specific flight configuration. The pilot, aged 41, had been flying ultralights since 1998 but was currently undergoing training on fixed-wing aircraft. Notably, the pilot did not have authorization to carry passengers on this flight. The passenger, a 37-year-old instructor trainee, was authorized to fly but had relatively limited experience, with between 50 and 100 flight hours.
Findings
The investigation established that the primary cause of the accident was a confusion in the direction of the controls. It is believed that the pilot likely pulled back on the controls to pitch the nose up, but instead caused the aircraft to dive. This error was likely driven by the pilot's limited experience with this specific type of ultralight combined with the conflicting muscle memory from his ongoing airplane training. Additionally, the investigators noted that the pilot's overconfidence in the passenger—who was an instructor trainee—may have contributed to a lack of corrective reaction following the initial nose-down pitch during the go-around.