Accident to the Fouga Magister registered F-AZPZ on 16/08/2024 near Bormes les Mimosas

During an airshow over the sea, the pilot carried out a display including several passes. Approximately three minutes into the display, following a loop carried out on the display axis, the pilot carried out a 360° turn with a bank angle of 60° generating a G-force of around +2 g. This turn was started and completed beyond the display axis. From their position, the flying display director and his deputy were not aware of these overshoots.

After the 360° turn and in order to turn around and return to the display axis in preparation for the following pass, the pilot performed a wingover manoeuvre, including a three-quarter climbing roll to the right (the "Derry turn”). When he found himself facing and close to the port of Bormes-les-Mimosas and probably within sight of the port of Le Lavandou, two major references for the display axis, the pilot tightened the turn to intercept the display axis. This descending manoeuvre increased the G-force, up to approximately +5 g for about ten seconds, with a probable peak at a higher value.  

The pilot most likely experienced a G-induced almost loss of consciousness (A-LOC), or even loss of consciousness under the influence of the positive acceleration experienced (G-LOC) during the manoeuvre. The flight height, approximately 400 ft, did not give the pilot time to regain his capabilities. The aeroplane collided with the sea surface.