Incident Overview
On 14 June 2005, a SOCATA TB-200 aircraft, registration CS-DEL, departed from Runway 01 at Évora Aerodrome at approximately 10:50 UTC. The flight was a solo training mission conducted by a student pilot.
Sequence of Events
The pilot performed two touch-and-go landings without incident. On the third circuit, a full-stop landing was planned. The approach speed was as recommended, and the flare and touchdown were normal. When the pilot applied the brakes, the aircraft yawed to the left and departed the runway. The student pilot did not react and lost control. The aircraft traveled about 140 meters on the adjacent terrain before coming to rest against the aerodrome perimeter fence.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The student pilot was 20 years old, of Dutch nationality, and held a valid student pilot license (PLAA No. 29/05). He had a total of 15 flight hours, all on the same aircraft type. The aircraft was a 2001 SOCATA TB-200, serial number 2072, equipped with a Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 engine and a Hartzell propeller. It had valid airworthiness and maintenance documentation; the last inspection was on 26 May 2005, with 708 hours total time.
Weather and Aerodrome
Meteorological conditions included wind from 300 degrees at 6 knots, clear sky, visibility exceeding 10 km, and a temperature of 20°C. Évora Aerodrome has a single asphalt runway (01/19) 1400 m long and 23 m wide, with no slope. The perimeter is enclosed by a 2.5 m high fence. The fence is located 90 m from the runway centerline.
Damage
The aircraft sustained light damage to the leading edges of the wings, the propeller tip (from ground contact when the aircraft nosed over near the fence), and the landing gear. The perimeter fence was damaged.
Findings
- Both the pilot and aircraft had valid documentation for the training flight.
- The pilot's total flight experience was 15 hours.
- Post-incident inspection found the aircraft's steering and braking systems functional and without defects.
- The 140-meter ground track resulted from the pilot's inaction due to panic.
- The student pilot was on his first solo flight.
Probable Cause
The incident was attributed to loss of control after landing due to the student pilot's inability to overcome panic and recover control of the aircraft's steering and braking systems, compounded by his limited experience.