Accident to the Centrair 101 registered F-CHEL on 10/06/2025 at Valavoire

The day of the accident, the aerological conditions were not particularly favourable for gliding. The pilot used the uplifts in several zones, which allowed him to hold a flight altitude of around 1,800 m, without any significant uplift.

After a flight time of around one hour, he headed towards Jouère mountain and tried to use several uplifts without managing to significantly gain altitude. He then headed towards the south-east slope of Jouère mountain, in slope soaring flight and lower than the main ridge.

The recorded flight path showed that a right-hand turn was carried out while slightly gaining altitude. The glider then collided with the terrain at a point twenty metres lower than the last recorded position.

The pilot probably lost control during this turn. The investigation showed that the pilot was suffering from pulmonary and coronary diseases likely to reduce his ability to adapt to slope soaring conditions at more than 1,500 m.