Cessna 172M accident at Saint-Jean-d’Arves altisurface (HB-CEO)

Flight details and accident sequence On 22 May 2017 at about 12:05 local time, a privately operated Cessna 172M registered HB-CEO was conducting an instructor training flight for the mountain “wheels” qualification. The aircraft departed Annemasse aerodrome, completed four landings and takeoffs at Courchevel altiport and two at Méribel Robert Merloz altiport, and then proceeded to the Saint-Jean-d’Arves altisurface, located at 1,816 m altitude. The site had a 330 m by 50 m unpaved runway with a 15% slope. During the final approach, the aircraft was slightly below the glide path and to the right of the centerline. At main-wheel touchdown, the aircraft slowed sharply and the nose dropped suddenly. The nose landing gear sank into soft ground and broke, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and come to rest on its back. The aircraft was heavily damaged. The two people on board were an instructor and a pilot. ## Weather and crew information Météo France estimated on-site conditions as light variable wind from the north sector, CAVOK, a temperature of 14 °C, and QNH 1020 hPa. The pilot, who owned the aircraft, held a PPL(A), mountain “wheels and skis” qualification, FI(A), and mountain “skis” instructor qualification, with 2,376 total flight hours, including 46 in the preceding three months. The instructor held a CPL(A), mountain “wheels and skis” qualification, FI(A), mountain “wheels and skis” instructor qualification, and a Swiss FII qualification, with 13,530 total flight hours, including 126 in the preceding three months. The BEA noted that the information was mainly based on the pilot’s and instructor’s accounts and had not been independently validated.