What happened
On October 27, 2015, a Cessna 172S, registration F-HJOZ, was conducting a solo local flight from Toussus-le-Noble. After approximately 40 minutes of flight, the pilot returned to the aerodrome and established a semi-direct approach for runway 07L. During the final approach, the pilot utilized the second notch of flaps and maintained a speed between 70 and 75 knots.
While on final, the pilot attempted to correct a high glide path. Although the aircraft crossed the runway threshold following the PAPI guidance, it began to drift to the left. Despite the unexpected lateral deviation, the pilot did not initiate a go-around, believing the aircraft's altitude and speed were too low to do so. The aircraft subsequently bounced twice on the runway. During these bounces, the aircraft drifted further left, eventually exiting the runway surface. The nose gear sank into the soft ground, causing the aircraft to capsize onto its back. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, but no injuries were reported.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's training history and flight experience. At the time of the accident, the pilot had approximately 37 hours of dual instruction and 1 hour and 40 minutes of experience as pilot-in-command on this type. The pilot had not flown since July 2015 due to professional and weather-related constraints.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's approach techniques. On the day of the accident, the pilot had completed four circuits under instruction; notably, during the first landing of those circuits, the instructor had initiated a go-around due to an approach that was too fast and too steep. The investigation also noted that the pilot lacked a clear understanding of the specific criteria defining an unstabilized approach and viewed go-arounds during solo flights primarily as training exercises rather than necessary safety maneuvers.
Findings
- The pilot failed to execute a go-around despite a lateral deviation from the runway centerline.
- The decision not to initiate a go-around following a lateral excursion and landing bounces led to the aircraft exiting the runway.
- The pilot's recent flight experience was limited due to a significant gap in training time since July 2015.