What happened
On December 2, 2015, at approximately 09:30 local time, a Piper PA32, registration N675MP, was performing a local flight around Saint-Barthélemy. The aircraft was operated by an aero club and carried a pilot and one passenger.
Upon returning to the airfield, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 10. The pilot reported a final approach speed of 70 knots, with the aircraft touching down near the midpoint of the runway. As the pilot applied the brakes during the landing roll, the aircraft veered to the left. The aircraft subsequently exited the paved runway and collided with a wall located roughly 30 meters from the runway centerline. The impact caused heavy damage to the aircraft, specifically affecting the left wing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Meteorological conditions were reported as CAVOK (ceiling and visibility OK) with an easterly wind of 11 knots.
Following the accident, a mechanic inspected the aircraft's landing gear and braking system. The inspection revealed no anomalies in the nose gear or the braking mechanism that could account for the sudden leftward veer during the landing roll. The pilot held a private pilot license with 200 total flight hours, including 90 hours on the Piper PA32 type.