What happened
On May 1, 2005, at approximately 18:40 local time, a Robin Cap 10 B, registration F-GSUP, was returning from a ferry flight originating in Cholet. While approaching the L'Aigle Saint-Michel aerodrome, the pilot performed a low-altitude pass over runway 25 at high speed. During this maneuver, the pilot initiated a climb and a left turn, which resulted in the aircraft striking the ground near the threshold of runway 07. The impact was a high-energy collision, and both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft was operating with a mass of 761 kg, slightly exceeding the 760 kg limit for the aerobatic category, though still within the utility category limit. Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft approaching from the south at approximately 1,50-foot altitude, performing a descending right turn, and then flying at high speed and low altitude along runway 25. As the aircraft reached the middle of the runway, it was observed to pitch up at an angle of approximately 30 degrees before experiencing a left-wing stall.
Prior to the accident, the pilot had requested permission from the Cholet AFIS to take off against the wind direction, being informed of a 5-knot tailwind. Observations at Cholet also noted the aircraft taxiing to the midpoint of the runway rather than the full length for takeoff. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the crash.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to execute a maneuver at a low altitude, which left no safety margin in the event of a loss of control.
- The pilot's excessive confidence in his own flying abilities likely contributed to the decision-making process.
- The aircraft's flight path, including the high-speed low-altitude pass and the initial takeoff from Cholet with a tailwind, indicated a pattern of risk-taking.