Renaud Ecalle, His Wife And Two Children Were Aboard When The Plane Went Down

News coming to ANN from France indicates that French Air Force Captain and Aerobatic World and European Champion Renaud Ecalle died when his single-engine wood-and-fabric Jodel 1050 went down at dusk Saturday in severe weather 50nm northwest of the French city of Montepellier.

Photo Of Renaud Ecalle Taxiing During An Air Show In France
Photo Used With Permission Of CAPTENS

Ecalle's wife, also a pilot, and their two young children were also on board the aircraft. Ecalle, 30, and his family were returning to Salon Air Base from Jonzac, where he'd flown a demonstration show in a borrowed Extra 300 during an open house at the local aeroclub.

An ANN reader who resides in France tells us that Montpellier ATC lost contact with Ecalle's plane at 1930 local time after he reported having "navigational difficulties." Low ceiling, rain and high winds hindered Search and Rescue efforts, which were launched when Ecalle's fuel reserves were deemed exhausted. The white and yellow Jodel's wreckage was finally spotted by a SAR Air Force Puma at 1300 local time on Monday, in a hilly region at the southern end of the Massif Central range.

Ecalle had logged more than 2500 hours of flight time in aircraft including the Alpha Jet and the Mirage 1. He had recently won the European Aerobatic Championship.

The news is confirmed by reports on the French Air Force website.

FMI: www.captens.fr