Incident Overview
On 16 July 2009 at 12:30 UTC, a Socata TB-200 aircraft, registration CS-DED (callsign Diana 09), operated by Academia Aeronáutica de Évora, was conducting a landing on Runway 01 at Évora Aerodrome. The aircraft was under the control of a student pilot. Weather conditions were clear with good visibility and a light wind from the northwest at 8 knots.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot received information that the runway was clear and proceeded with the approach. During the final approach, the student reduced the engine to idle at the runway threshold and initiated the flare. Simultaneously, the student applied left aileron to correct for the wind and right rudder to maintain alignment with the runway.
The left main wheel touched the runway first, followed by the right main wheel. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft began to veer left, departed the paved surface, and continued onto adjacent terrain. It traveled approximately 70 meters before coming to a stop in a tail-up attitude, supported by the main landing gear, engine cowlings, and propeller blades.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller blades, which were bent backward; the right wing root; the engine cowlings; and the nose landing gear, which collapsed after the nose wheel passed over a small furrow in the terrain.
Occupant Status
The student pilot, a 23-year-old Dutch national with a valid flight authorization and 25 hours 15 minutes of total flight experience (all on type), was uninjured and exited the aircraft without assistance.
Analysis and Conclusions
The investigation determined that the runway excursion occurred during landing in good visibility with a light left crosswind. When the left main wheel contacted the runway, the student pilot released pressure on the control column, causing the right main wheel to touch down more firmly than normal. This unexpected event led the student to instinctively release pressure on the right rudder pedal. As a result, directional control was lost, and the aircraft yawed into the wind, veering off the runway. Brake marks on the runway indicated that the student attempted to use braking to keep the aircraft on the runway.
No mechanical failures or other contributing factors were identified.
Probable Cause
The student pilot could not maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing.