What happened
On August 17, 2011, at approximately 16:3 and 30 local time, an amphibious Fly Synthesis Catalina NG ultralight, identified as 50-PT, departed from Granville aerodrome for a local flight. The flight was a paid passenger experience, known as a flight of discovery. During the flight, the pilot performed several turns followed by a steep climb. At the apex of this climb, the aircraft entered a descending right-hand turn and subsequently experienced a sudden stall. This led to a spin, during which the aircraft's nose pitched downward aggressively. Although the pilot managed to stop the rotation after the third turn of the spin and attempted to recover the aircraft's attitude, the Fly Synthesis Catalina NG struck the surface of the water. The impact resulted in two fatalities (the pilot and the passenger) and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined wreckage and video footage from a witness. The wreckage showed no mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the accident. Investigators found that the pilot had previously performed aerobatic maneuvers for a different passenger on a preceding flight, and the passenger on this fatal flight had requested a similar high-sensation experience.
Technical reviews of the aircraft's documentation revealed that the manufacturer's manual explicitly prohibits aerobatic maneuvers. While the pilot held an ultralight license, they did not possess an aerobatic qualification. Additionally, the pilot had removed the control stick on the passenger side to prevent any accidental interference with the controls, though the rudder pedals remained attached and could not be removed.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to perform aerobatic maneuvers at an insufficient altitude.
- The request from the passenger likely created pressure that prompted the pilot to attempt the maneuvers.
- The investigation could not confirm whether the passenger had inadvertently moved the rudder pedals during the flight.