What happened
On July 13, 2012, a Gulfstream G-IV, registration N823GA, operated by Universal Jet Aviation, was performing a visual approach to runway 13 at Le Castellet aerodrome. During the approach, the crew failed to arm the ground spoilers, which triggered a 'GND SPOILER UNARM' advisory on the EICAS.
The aircraft touched down approximately 365 meters from the threshold. Because the spoilers were not armed, they failed to deploy automatically upon touchdown. As the crew applied braking and attempted to deploy thrust reversers, the aircraft experienced a period of instability. The nose gear made contact with the runway, and a significant nose-down input by the crew resulted in an unusually high load on the nose gear for less than one second.
Following this, the aircraft began to deviate laterally. The crew attempted to correct the path using rudder inputs and braking, but the aircraft continued to veer left. The N8/823GA eventually exited the runway at a speed of approximately 95 knots, striking a runway beacon, a PAPI light, and a metal fence before colliding with trees. The impact caused an immediate fire. The three occupants—the pilot, co-pilot, and cabin assistant—were unable to evacuate and perished in the accident.
The investigation
The BEA investigation examined the aircraft's flight data, cockpit voice recordings, and the mechanical state of the nose wheel steering system. Investigators also conducted specialized tire tests at Cranfield University to study how wheel orientation and vertical loads affect skid marks. The investigation focused on the sequence of events following touchdown, the failure of the ground spoilers to deploy, and the crew's ability to maintain directional control during the braking phase. The inquiry also reviewed the operator's training procedures and the effectiveness of the aerodrome's firefighting response.