What happened
On April 17, 2013, a Tecnam P92 Echo ultralight aircraft, identified as 32-KX, was engaged in a training flight near Castelnau-Magnoac. The flight was being conducted by a student pilot accompanied by an instructor. After departing from the pilot's private ultralight airfield, the crew proceeded to the Castelnau-Magnoac aerodrome to perform circuit training.
During the approach, the pilot requested to land on runway 22 to avoid a potential tailwind condition experienced at their home airfield. Despite some hesitation, the instructor agreed to the approach. The landing attempt was hard, resulting in one or two bounces on the runway. Following these bounces, the instructor initiated a go-around and took control of the aircraft. During this maneuver, the instructor failed to verify that the throttle had been fully advanced. Furthermore, the instructor's control inputs were complicated by conflicting actions from the student pilot. This led to a loss of control, causing the aircraft to strike the ground approximately 60 meters to the right of the runway. The aircraft traveled roughly 80 meters, crossing a ditch before coming to a complete stop. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing and the subsequent go-around. The BEA examined the flight profiles, the environmental conditions, and the actions of both occupants. The investigation noted the instructor's extensive experience, including approximately 5,000 total flight hours and 2,500 hours in ultralight aircraft. The investigation also reviewed the student pilot's training progress, which had begun in July 2010.