Cessna 150 F-BXNH accident at Aérodrome du Blanc

Flight and Accident Sequence On 23 May 2016, a Cessna 150 registered F-BXNH, operated by an aéroclub, departed Châteauroux-Villers (36) at approximately 15:30 local time for a pre-solo navigation check flight. The aircraft carried a student pilot and an instructor. While over Aérodrome du Blanc (36), the instructor requested the student to perform a simulated engine failure followed by a forced landing on the aerodrome’s grass runway. During the power application, the landing gear sank into the ground and the aircraft overturned onto its back. ## Aerodrome and Weather Aérodrome du Blanc has two parallel runways: a paved runway 800 m x 20 m and an unpaved runway 1,050 m x 80 m. The aerodrome chart noted that the unpaved runway was reserved for gliders and utility aircraft and was sensitive to autumn and spring weather. No on-site meteorological facility existed at the aerodrome. Weather data came from Châteauroux-Centre (36), 30 nautical miles to the northeast. Observations from the previous day and night indicated light to moderate rain at regular intervals. A 13:00 forecast and a 16:00 automatic observation reported temporary rain showers with cumulonimbus clouds. ## Personnel The student pilot was 19 years old with 52 total flight hours, including 40 on type. He had flown four hours in the previous month after an interruption of about one year and had completed eight solo flights totaling two hours. He was to be released for solo navigation after this check flight. The instructor was 25 years old, held a CPL/A license, and had qualifications for single- and multi-engine piston aircraft and instrument flight. He had held a PPL instructor qualification since September 2015 and had 620 total flight hours, including 140 on type. ## Testimony The student pilot stated that he and the instructor had reviewed the weather before the flight, noting the wind was near the aircraft’s limits. He chose the grass runway because it was longer and wider than the paved runway. He believed the runway condition allowed landing, touched down harder than usual, felt the nose wheel sink, and the aircraft overturned forward. He noted that although the grass runway was reserved for gliders and utility aircraft, no NOTAM or ground signage prohibited its use. The instructor said the student was distracted by crosswind during power application and pushed the stick forward to keep the aircraft from stalling. The landing gear then sank into the soft ground. The instructor added that he had not trained the student and knew him little, and attributed the accident to reduced attention due to overconfidence in a near-graduate student and a personal distraction on the day. ## Conclusion The accident resulted from the crew’s failure to consider the aerodrome’s special instructions, leading them to land on a runway unsuitable given the weather conditions from the previous day and the day of the event.