What happened
On Sunday, August 1, 1999, at approximately 11:00 local time, an Aérolac Airland MD 04 ultralight, identified as 46-BO, was conducting a local flight over the village of Calès. During the flight, the pilot performed a very low-altitude pass over the village to wave to people on the ground, while the passenger took photographs of the scene.
While flying at this extremely low altitude, the aircraft approached an electrical power line positioned 11.50 meters above the ground. The aircraft entered a left-hand turn and subsequently struck the ground. The impact resulted in two fatalities (the pilot and the passenger) and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the circumstances surrounding the loss of control. Investigators examined the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, which were characterized by light winds (320° to 350° at 2 to 5 knots), visibility exceeding 10 km, and scattered clouds at 2,000 feet.
Analysis of the flight sequence indicated that the aircraft's trajectory brought it into close proximity with the overhead power lines. The investigation established that the pilot likely attempted an evasive maneuver to avoid the electrical lines, which led to the loss of control and the subsequent collision with the terrain.