What happened
On July 14, 2005, a SOCATA TB-200, registration CS-DEL, departed from runway 01 at the Évora Aerodrome for a solo instructional flight. The pilot, a student with 15 hours of total flight experience, was performing his very first solo flight. The flight sequence consisted of two successful touch-and-go landings followed by a final attempt at a full-stop landing.
During the final landing, the approach speed, flare, and touchdown were all within normal parameters. However, upon applying the brakes, the aircraft veered to the left and exited the runway. The aircraft traveled approximately 140 meters across the adjacent terrain before striking the aerodrome's perimeter fence. The pilot was uninjured, though the aircraft sustained minor damage to the wing leading edges, the propeller tip, and the landing gear.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation confirmed that the aircraft's documentation was valid and all maintenance schedules had been followed. The steering and braking systems were inspected following the incident and were found to be fully functional and without deficiency. The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the braking phase of the landing.
Findings
- The pilot was performing his first solo flight.
- The student pilot had limited flight experience, totaling only 15 hours.
- The primary cause of the excursion was the pilot's inability to manage panic and maintain control of the aircraft's directional and braking systems after the initial veer occurred.