What happened
On May 30, 2001, a B & F Technik FK9 Mark 3 ultralight, identified as 31-BS, was conducting a sightseeing flight after departing from Rodez. During the flight, the pilot decided to perform a touch-and-go maneuver at a private landing platform located at Grand-Vagbre.
After completing a circuit, the pilot approached the platform from the north. The aircraft touched down approximately fifty meters after the runway threshold, at which point the pilot initiated a go-around. During this maneuver, the right wheel of the aircraft entered the tall grass on the right side of the runway. This caused the aircraft to veer laterally off the runway, cross a slope at the end of the strip, and strike a fence, ultimately resulting in the aircraft flipping onto its back. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation established that the landing platform used was a private altisurface characterized by a 15% upward slope facing north. While the pilot had performed a simulated landing at this location the previous day to assess its condition, they had not sought formal permission from the platform owner to use the site for the actual maneuver.
Investigators also noted that the official regulations for the platform require all takeoffs to be directed toward the south and all landings toward the north. The pilot's decision to execute a go-around on this specific terrain was a key factor in the sequence of events.