What happened
On the evening of June 16, 1997, a GD 2000 amateur-built aircraft, registered F-PRGD, was performing a local flight near Saint-Evarzec, France. The pilot was operating the aircraft at a low altitude over the town, executing turns with high bank angles. During the execution of an aerobatic maneuver, structural components of the left wing's upper surface detached from the aircraft. Following this structural failure, the aircraft entered a vertical descent, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of both the pilot and one passenger.
At the time of the accident, meteorological conditions included scattered to overcast ceilings between 600 and 3,000 feet, with the presence of cumulonimbus clouds. Winds were recorded at 340 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts reaching 15 to 20 knots.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the left wing and the flight profile of the aircraft. Investigators noted that the aircraft had previously undergone repairs to the left wing in 1993 following an accident involving the other co-owner; these repairs had been performed by the manufacturer. Furthermore, the investigation established that the GD 2000 is not designed to perform aerobatic maneuvers.