What happened
On 9 April 2017, a student pilot was performing her first solo flight in an Evektor SportStar RTC, registration F-HDLA, at the Chelles Le Pin aerodrome. Following a successful dual flight, the student was authorized to complete a solo aerodrome traffic circuit.
During the first landing attempt on runway 22, the aircraft bounced due to a bump at the runway intersection. The student initiated a go-around. On the second approach, the aircraft's approach slope was steep, and the aircraft was flying at a higher airspeed than usual because of the reduced weight of the single occupant. This resulted in a second bounced touchdown. As the aircraft moved along the runway, it entered a side-to-side roll. The student attempted to abort the landing, but the aircraft gained height, entered a steep left bank, and pitched into a nose-up attitude. The aircraft subsequently stalled on the left wing and collided with the ground near the aerodrome hangars, leaving the student pilot fatally injured and the aircraft destroyed.
The investigation
The BEA examined the aircraft's GNSS data, which revealed that approach slopes were consistently steeper than the standard 3° slope. The investigation also reviewed radio communications between the student and the instructor on the ground. The analysis showed that the instructor, reacting emotionally to the first bounce, provided intensive and frequent radio instructions during the second approach. These instructions included repeated commands to "hold it," "flare," and eventually "push the stick."
Investigators also looked into the aerodrome's physical characteristics, noting that the runway had imperfections that could cause bounces and that vegetation was encroaching on the obstacle protection surfaces. No technical faults were found in the aircraft's systems; the canopy was closed and the flaps were in the take-off configuration at the time of impact.
Findings
- The student's approach speed was significantly higher than the stall speed due to the lower aircraft weight, leading to a long landing and subsequent bounces.
- The instructor's frequent and directive radio interventions caused the student to lose her autonomy, as she followed his commands to the letter rather than managing the flight herself.
- The student lacked the necessary reflexes to manage the dynamic instability of the aircraft during an aborted landing in a high-stress environment.
- The presence of a runway bump and the steep approach slope contributed to the loss of control.