Piper PA18 accident at Monestier-de-Clermont Les Verdures (HB-ORV)

Flight Details and Incident Overview On July 27, 2016, at 16:10 local time, a Piper PA18 aircraft registered as HB-ORV was involved in an accident at the private airfield of Monestier-de-Clermont Les Verdures (38) in France. The aircraft was operated by a club for general aviation purposes. An instructor and a student pilot were on board. The aircraft sustained heavy damage. ## Flight Progression and Decision to Land The flight began at 14:41 from Annecy Meythet (74) with the student pilot accompanied by an instructor. The intended destinations were the altisurface of Clamensane (04) and the airfield of Gap Tallard (05). After passing Grenoble, the crew noticed a bumblebee inside the cabin. Attempts to remove the insect by opening the left side window and the upper part of the access door were unsuccessful. The instructor, recognizing the nearby private airfield of Monestier-de-Clermont Les Verdures, decided to land there. He took control of the aircraft and performed a reconnaissance of the altisurface. ## Approach and Landing Sequence During the final approach to grass runway 24, the indicated airspeed was 65 mph, compared to the recommended approach speed of 60 mph. The instructor estimated a tailwind component of 6 to 8 knots and planned to touch down in the first third of the runway. However, the wheels touched down near the midpoint of the runway. The aircraft bounced twice before the flare was completed, then veered to the right and collided with an embankment bordering the runway. The main landing gear broke. ## Meteorological Conditions The estimated weather conditions at the site were a wind from the north at 8 to 10 knots, with a risk of gusts of 15 to 20 knots over the relief. Visibility was CAVOK, and the temperature was 25°C. ## Personnel and Airfield Information The instructor held a CPL(A) license and an FI(A) qualification, with 2,535 total flight hours, including 176 on type. The student pilot held a PPL(A) license with 310 total flight hours, including 60 on type. The private airfield of Monestier-de-Clermont Les Verdures had the characteristics of an altisurface and was open only to mountain-qualified pilots and ULMs. The grass runway 06/24 was 320 meters long and 25 meters wide, with a regular upward slope of 20% at QFU 24. ## Conclusion and Lessons Learned The accident was attributed to the instructor's erroneous estimation of the tailwind component, which led to an unstabilized approach. The high ground speed resulted in a long landing, followed by bounces and a loss of control of the trajectory on the ground. The presence of the bumblebee in the cabin likely contributed to hasty decision-making.