Accident to the JMB Aircraft VL3A identified 88PP on 16/10/2021 at Beaune-Challanges AD
Loss of control in initial climb, collision with ground
Following a sudden change of microlight, the pilot and passenger boarded the pilot’s VL3 in order to carry out a local pleasure flight.
During the initial climb, the microlight adopted a steep nose-up attitude until a loss of control and the start of a left-hand spin. Given the low height that had been reached, the pilot could not recover control of the microlight before the collision with the ground. The microlight then burst into flames causing the activation of the airframe parachute pyrotechnic device.
The investigation was unable to determine why the microlight took a steep nose-up attitude nor why the pilot did not let the stick move forward in time to maintain an angle of attack that was compatible with the flight.
It is possible that the attitude taken was the result of an uncontrolled manoeuvre or a pilot incapacitation linked to the presence of a heart disease. Furthermore, the investigation was not able to exclude the possibility of a technical malfunction.