What happened
On May 23, 2016, a Cessna 150, registration F-BXNH, was conducting a dual instruction flight from Châteauroux-Villers to Le Blanc. The flight was intended to be a final check before the student pilot's first solo navigation flight. Upon arriving at the Le Blanc aerodrome, the instructor directed the student to perform a simulated engine failure and a supervised landing on the aerodrome's unpaved grass runway.
During the landing sequence, the student pilot experienced a heavy touchdown. As the crew attempted a go-around, the nose wheel sank into the soft ground, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and flip onto its back. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, but no injuries were reported.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the surface conditions of the unpaved runway and the crew's decision-making regarding aerodrome procedures. While the grass runway was primarily reserved for gliders and service aircraft, investigators found no active NOTAMs or ground markings prohibiting its use at the time.
Meteorological data from Châteauroux-Centre indicated that the region had experienced light to moderate rain the previous night and day, with intermittent showers and cumulonimbus clouds present. The investigation also examined the crew's familiarity with the specific constraints of the Le Blanc aerodrome. The instructor noted that while they were familiar with the aerodrome, they had only ever used the paved runway and had not specifically recalled the restrictions regarding the unpaved strip.
Findings
- The crew chose the unpaved runway because it was wider and longer than the paved option, which was necessary to manage a significant crosswind.
- The unpaved surface was contaminated by recent rainfall, making the ground soft and unstable.
- During the go-around, the student pilot, distracted by the crosswind, pushed the control column forward to keep the aircraft on the ground, which caused the nose wheel to dig into the soft soil.
- The instructor's attention may have been diminished due to a combination of overconfidence in the student's abilities and personal distractions on the day of the accident.