What happened
On January 8, 2023, a Tecnam P2010 departed from Hasselt/Kiewit for a cross-country flight to Antwerp/Deurne. The flight, which was part of a non-commercial trip to attend a flight training organization's open house, had been delayed from the morning due to rain.
Upon arriving at Antwerp Airport, the aircraft landed on runway 29. During the landing roll, the aircraft veered off the runway on the south side, passing taxiway G, and became stuck in soft grass approximately five meters from the paved surface. The pilot and three passengers were able to exit the aircraft without injury, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
The AAIU(Be) conducted a data-collection investigation into the event. The investigation examined meteorological records, including METAR, ATIS, and TAF data, as well as air traffic control frequency recordings.
While the pilot's pre-flight METAR check at 11:50 UTC indicated a steady wind of 200° at 13 knots, the investigation found that wind conditions had changed. Although the METAR at the time of landing did not explicitly report gusting, ATC recordings revealed that the pilot had been informed of a 22-knot gust during both the base leg and the short final approach. Additionally, the ATIS information (Information Papa) issued around the time of landing included details regarding wind gusts, and the TAF had previously indicated a trend of increasing wind speeds.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the unperceived wind gusts during the landing phase.
- The pilot underestimated the prevailing weather conditions, specifically the impact of the wind gusts on aircraft control.
- The pilot relied on the METAR, which did not report gusts because the 10-minute average wind speed did not meet the specific threshold for a gust report, even though peak gusts of 22 knots were present.
- While the aircraft's maximum demonstrated crosswind is 12 knots, this is a certification value rather than an operational limit; however, the high crosswind and gusts significantly challenged the pilot's ability to maintain directional control.
Safety action
- Pilots are reminded that a lack of a gust report in a METAR does not guarantee stable wind conditions, as gusts are only reported when the maximum speed exceeds the average by at least 10 knots.
- Relying solely on METAR readings is insufficient for a complete understanding of the weather; pilots should actively monitor ATIS and ATC communications for real-time updates on wind variability.