A tragic plane accident in the vicinity of Montpellier October 3rd 2010 has taken the life of world aerobatic champion and former Mirage F1 pilot captain Renaud Écalle, his wife and their two children. The aircraft involved was a Jodel DR-1050 Ambassadeur. Since 2008 he was stationed at Salon de Provence with the Equipes de Présentation de l’Armée de l’Air (EPAA).
As a member of the Equipe de Voltige de l’Armée de l’Air (EVAA) he participated in many aerobatic competitions. In 2009 he became world aerobatic champion flying a Extra 330SC.