History of the Flight
On Saturday 8 July 2023, around 14:15 local time, a Piper PA28-181 Archer II, registered F-HDYN, departed from runway 26 of Lognes-Émerainville aerodrome for a local sightseeing flight. The pilot, accompanied by two passengers, flew eastward and later returned to the aerodrome. After overflying the field, she joined the downwind leg for runway 26.
During final approach, the pilot extended flaps to 40°. On short final, the indicated airspeed was 78 kt. The pilot aimed slightly before the runway threshold to touch down early. The aircraft touched down approximately 230 m past the threshold and bounced. The flare was not pronounced. Between the touchdown point and a point about 250 m from the runway end, the aircraft bounced five times without the pilot making nose-up or nose-down inputs. After the last bounce, the aircraft was on the ground and the pilot retracted flaps to 10° (take-off position) to improve braking adhesion.
Concerned about a runway excursion, the pilot decided to perform a balked landing. She increased engine power and applied nose-up input; the carburetor heat remained ON. A witness on the ground reported a high nose-up pitch. The stall warning activated. The aircraft reached a maximum height of about two meters as it passed the runway end. It then struck the aerodrome's perimeter fence, which slowed it, and came to rest under the crash barrier of the adjacent N104 highway, 375 m beyond the runway end.
Additional Information
Meteorological Information
The video taken by a passenger showed the aerodrome's west windsock vertical (indicating no wind). The 15:00 METAR at Paris-Orly (11 NM southwest) reported wind from 160° at 7 kt, varying between 110° and 200°, CAVOK, temperature 33°C. Paris-Charles de Gaulle METAR was similar.
Aircraft Information
The Piper PA28-181 Archer II (F-HDYN) had a 180-hp Lycoming O-360-A4M engine. It was owned by Club Air Pilot. Flap positions: 0°, 10° (take-off), 25°, and 40°. Take-off speed with flaps 10°: 48-53 kt. Maximum take-off weight: 1,157 kg; estimated landing weight: 1,050 kg. Approach speed with flaps 40°: 66 kt. Landing distance (maximum braking) with flaps 40°: 420 m. Stall speeds: flaps 0°: 50 kt; flaps 25°: 47 kt; flaps 40°: 44 kt; flaps 10° not specified. The stall warning activates 5-10 kt above stall.
Pilot Information
The 47-year-old pilot held a PPL(A) obtained in November 2021. She had logged 440 flight hours, with 19 hours on HR200 and 3 hours on PA28 in the month before the accident. She had carried out around 350 "light instruction flights" for Club Air Pilot between November 2021 and June 2023. She stated these flights were performed to support the flying club financially and to gain experience. The pilot reported feeling pressure due to increased flight frequency and passenger satisfaction expectations.