What happened
On Sunday, April 27, 2003, at 13:15, an Aviasud Engineering Xpair 65 ultralight, identified as 26-HL, was involved in a fatal accident near Villeneuve-de-Berg, France. The pilot had departed from Aubenas earlier that morning to conduct a first flight with a passenger.
While cruising at approximately 2,500 feet toward Montélimar, the pilot reported that the aircraft began a progressive descent of about 500 feet that could not be arrested despite increasing engine power and pitch. To manage the situation, the pilot attempted an emergency landing at a nearby football field, initiating a left-hand turn. During this maneuver, while flying over a residential area, the aircraft lost altitude and the left main gear struck the roof of a children's reception center. The aircraft subsequently flipped onto its back on a rooftop within the facility. The impact resulted in two injuries (the pilot and the passenger) and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the engine. The engine was found to be functioning normally, and the flight controls exhibited normal movement. The aircraft was also confirmed to be within its proper weight and balance limits. No technical malfunctions were identified to explain the involuntary loss of altitude described by the pilot.
Witnesses on the ground provided a different perspective on the flight path, noting that the pilot had been performing a low-altitude level flight, waving to children in the center's courtyard, before initiating a tight left turn that led to the collision with the building.