What happened
On September 5, 2004, at approximately 18:20, a Junkers Profly Allegro SW-582 ultralight aircraft, identified as 68-PX, crashed during takeoff from the Dampierre-et-Flée aerodrome. The flight was a private trip following a day at the Blois ultralight show. After making two refueling stops earlier in the day, the pilot prepared for departure from the unpaved runway 02. Due to a low battery charge, the engine was started using jumper cables connected to a tractor.
Shortly after rotation, witnesses observed the aircraft turning northwest at a low airspeed while maintaining level flight. The aircraft then entered an increasingly steep pitch-up attitude. At an altitude of approximately 30 meters, the aircraft began to buffet and subsequently stalled. Witnesses noted that just before the loss of control, the aircraft appeared to be "hanging" on its propeller. The aircraft struck the ground northwest of the aerodrome and caught fire. The accident resulted in one fatality and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight sequence and the condition of the aircraft following the impact. Investigators examined the wreckage and determined that the aircraft struck the ground in a flat attitude with very little horizontal velocity. While the aircraft was equipped with a pyrotechnic-activated emergency parachute, the low altitude of the stall prevented the system from functioning effectively; it could not be determined if the pilot attempted to deploy it.
Due to the intensity of the post-crash fire, investigators were unable to verify the continuity of the flight controls. The autopsy of the pilot revealed no medical anomalies that would suggest sudden incapacitation. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the area surrounding the aerodrome was free of obstacles and offered several fields suitable for emergency landings.