What happened
On May 3, 2015, a DR400/180 aircraft, registration F-GGJL, was conducting a training flight involving one instructor and three PPL students. The flight consisted of several navigation legs between Cherbourg, Dinan, and the departure airfield.
During the return to Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole airfield, the pilot in command was established on final approach for runway 29 left. As the aircraft approached the runway, the pilot was blinded by the sun, which was positioned at an azimuth of 290° and a height of only 4° above the horizon. Although the instructor, seated in the front right seat, was also affected by the glare, they took control of the aircraft. Despite the instructor's belief that the aircraft remained aligned with the runway centerline, the aircraft landed approximately ten meters to the left of the runway edge. The aircraft subsequently struck a D4 intersection signpost, resulting in the right wing being severed approximately one meter from the wing root. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the crew's response to the glare. Investigators determined that at the time of the incident, the airfield was operating under self-information with a 5-knot wind from the northeast, creating a right crosswind component. Calculations confirmed the sun was positioned directly in front of the pilot, just above the horizon, during the final approach.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the sun glare encountered during the final approach.
- The investigation noted that the impact of solar glare is often underestimated and that accounting for the sun's position during flight planning is a practice that is rarely taught or implemented.
- The crew did not consider an approach with a different runway or an aborted landing despite the degraded visual conditions.
Safety action
Following the accident, the aero club conducted an internal safety management system (SMS) review. They published a feedback document (REX) for their pilots and instructors regarding the risks associated with sun glare and the necessary procedures to follow when such conditions occur.