Crash of a civilian Fouga Magister today

[Frog]

During an air show at Le Lavandou near Toulon, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Dragoon. The pilot is dead.
The following Patrouille de France Air show has been cancelled.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://video.lefigaro.fr/figaro/video/var-les-images-dun-avion-de-collection-qui-secrase-en-mer-en-marge-dun-defile-aerien/&ved=2ahUKEwi56IrQivqHAxUbTaQEHUeNKHQQwqsBegQILBAE&usg=AOvVaw15VGrDO3nUyGhzDfhQIl2_

 

[Airframes]

Terrible news, condolences to the family and friends.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Marcel]

Yeah, I saw it in the news. Terrible. Seems like he lost control? Here the video of the crash.

Straaljager crasht in zee tijdens show

 

[fannum]

Magister is a grossly underpowered '50s design with outdated, unreliable engines. Based on a glider, and considered to have good handling and few vices, thus often used in the day by flight demo teams.
However, a it's marginal aircraft on one engine with a power to weight ratio that would be unacceptable for current certification. IMHO, the big cause was attempting to maintain level flight in a steep bank with only a slight turn if any. The wings are unloaded, essentially producing little lift. Only the fuselage is providing lift and marginal engine power is inadequate to offset gravity.
Was the pilot fixated on something on the ground? Did an engine lose power? Why the heck didn't he level wings to regain lift?
Sad.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

It doesn't look like loss of control to me, unless there was a material hangup somewhere in the ailerons that prevented leveling the wings. Hard to analyze or explain from such a short clip.

 

[Frog]

For what it is worth, the pilot was a former fighter pilot and trainer aged 65 with a strong Mirage 2000 background.
Oddly enough, his father, former Aéronavale pilot, had died 21 years ago, in similar circumstances at Ajaccio and about the same hour (17.08) on a Zéphir (naval version of the Fouga Magister).
The Air Transports Gendarmerie has been tasked with the investigations.

 

[Gnomey]

Terrible to hear.

 

[Capt. Vick]

RIP