What happened
On 16 August 2025, at approximately 11:30 UTC, a mid-air accident occurred east of the Barcelonette Aerodrome (LFMR) in France. A Robin DR400-180R tow plane, registered F-HRPB, was performing a flight under visual flight rules (VFR) while towing a single-seat glider registered in Germany. During the operation, the glider was positioned at a high altitude behind the tow aircraft. Both aircraft subsequently lost control and crashed near Saint-Pons.
The investigation
The incident resulted in two fatalities, with one death occurring in the tow plane and one in the glider. The aircraft involved were destroyed upon impact. Following the notification of the accident, the French Bureau d’enquêtes et d’analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile (BEA) initiated a safety investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the loss of control.