Accident Reports

Famous pilot crashes ultralight

Ultralight pilot on way to Oshkosh crashes in Greenland.

Internationally known pilot and sailor Loic Pochet

Rescue by Royal Danish Navy in Greenland on 7/20/07 following a crash of
Pochet's Ultralight amphibious airplane near Amassalik, in a remote area on
the east coast of Greenland.  Pochet was flying to the EAA AirVenture show
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (July 23-29, 2007). Pochet, who suffered broken ribs
and a bruised sternum, crashed on 7/17 at roughly 2208 hrs from a 4,000-foot
altitude due to bad weather. The weather on the ground was just above
freezing. He was taken to a hospital in Amassallik.

FLIGHT
PLAN:

Pochet, an experienced Ultralight pilot, was to fly a well known route from
France to Northern Europe then across the North Sea, stopping for fuel at
Iceland, Greenland, Canada and then cross-country to Wisconsin and Oshkosh,
where he hoped to raise awareness and sponsor support for his upcoming
transatlantic flight attempt.

RESCUE
BRIEFING:

Before the crash, Pochet gave a VHF mayday call with his last position to
a UFH (Union Françise l'Helicoptere) flying with him.  The pilot of the
helicopter provided SAR forces from the Royal Danish Navy with a general
search area. Around 2200 hours on 7/17, Pochet also activated an ACR
Personal Locator Beacon (an ACR PLB-200 model with GPS), which was donated
to him from equipment sponsor Sierra Echo in France. The beacon's 406 MHz
signal transmitted Pochet's position and identification to overflying
COSPAS-SARSAT satellites. The signal was originally received by the French
MCC and then forwarded to Danish authorities.  The ACR PLB also provided a
constant 121.5 MHz local homing signal, which eventually led SAR teams to
Pochet. Without the homing signal provided by the PLB, SAR forces would not
have found Pochet as quickly.

Related Link(s):
Loic-Pochet Web site


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