Accident Overview
On 2 December 2015, at approximately 09:30 local time, a Piper PA32 (registration N675MP) operated by an aeroclub was involved in a runway excursion during landing at Saint-Barthélemy Aerodrome (977). The aircraft was conducting a local pleasure flight with a pilot and one passenger on board. The aircraft was heavily damaged.
Flight Sequence
The pilot departed from runway 10 for a local flight around the island. After returning, he joined the airport traffic pattern for the same runway. According to the pilot's account, his final approach speed was 70 knots. The aircraft touched down at the midpoint of the 646-meter-long by 18-meter-wide paved runway.
During the landing roll, as the pilot began braking, the airplane veered left, departed the runway surface, and collided with a wall located approximately 30 meters from the runway centerline. The left wing sustained damage as a result of the impact.
Environmental Conditions
Meteorological conditions were CAVOK with an easterly wind at 11 knots.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot license for airplanes. At the time of the accident, he had accumulated 200 total flight hours, including 90 hours on the Piper PA32. In the 30 days preceding the accident, he had logged more than seven flight hours.
Aircraft Examination
A mechanic examined the aircraft after the accident. No anomalies were found on the nose landing gear or in the braking system that could explain the runway excursion.
Note: The above information is derived from the pilot's testimony, and its validity is not assured.