Cessna 172R Collision with Tree at Les Saintes Aerodrome (F-ONDU)

Accident Overview and Consequences On 1 May 2018, at approximately 10:25 local time, a Cessna 172R registered F-ONDU, operated by Aéroclub de l’aviation civile de Guadeloupe, was destroyed after colliding with a tree during a cross-country VFR flight. The aircraft was en route from Pointe-à-Pitre Le Raizet airport to Saintes Terre-de-Haut aerodrome. The pilot and two passengers were on board. The pilot and one passenger sustained slight injuries, while the second passenger was seriously injured. ## Flight History and Approach The flight was a pleasure flight lasting just under 20 minutes. Radar data indicated that during the approach to runway 09, the aircraft was following a trajectory parallel to the published approach path but offset approximately 250 meters to the south. Five hundred and twenty meters upstream from the runway threshold, the aircraft’s left wing struck the top of a tree. The pilot lost control, and the aircraft came to rest 60 meters further on after being stopped by a tree trunk. ## Wreckage and Pilot Experience An examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-accident damage. The position of the flap extension cylinder was consistent with a 30-degree flap extension. The pilot held a European private pilot licence and a single-engine piston class rating, with 352 total flight hours, five of which were logged in the three months prior to the accident. The pilot had obtained clearance to use Les Saintes aerodrome in January 2018 after completing circuit patterns with an instructor. ## Meteorological and Aerodrome Conditions Weather conditions on the morning of the accident were dry and fairly sunny, with a moderate east-southeasterly wind. Visibility at Le Raizet was over 10 km, and wind readings showed an average of 15 knots with gusts up to 25 knots. The pilot reported good visibility and a windsock at the runway threshold indicating a wind of around 10 knots. Les Saintes aerodrome features a paved 544-meter runway that requires precision for landing. The standard approach to runway 09 involves passing Pain de Sucre at approximately 600 feet and the Antenna at 300 feet, with a steep initial approach slope of around 10% (6 degrees) before transitioning to a standard 3-degree slope on short final. ## Investigation Findings The investigation concluded that the pilot followed an approach path that did not align with the recommended procedure. The pilot lined up too early on the runway centreline on a standard approach slope without being aware of the presence of obstacles. The tree struck was located on the standard approach slope. The report noted that a significant number of pilots had deviated from the procedure by aligning prematurely on the runway centreline, which increased the risk of flying over terrain and obstacles at very low heights. ## Safety Measures Following the accident, the aero club’s safety committee issued recommendations on 6 June 2019, including performing the pre-landing checklist before passing the Antenna and maintaining a minimum altitude of 300 feet at that point. On 15 August 2019, an amendment to the AIP CAR SAM NAN for Les Saintes aerodrome was published, defining a new VFR arrival trajectory for runway 09 that emphasized strict compliance with routes and clearance heights. Since the implementation of this new trajectory, periodic checks of radar trajectories have been conducted to ensure compliance with the published approach procedures.