2016 Robin DR400-120 runway excursion at Montpellier-Méditerranée (F-GMKI)

Overview and flight details On 12 May 2016 at 12:50 local time, a Robin DR400-120 registered F-GMKI, operated by a club, was conducting a general-aviation solo navigation flight at the aerodrome of Montpellier-Méditerranée (34). The aircraft was landing on runway 30L, which measures 1,100 m by 30 m. The person on board was a student pilot. The aircraft was heavily damaged. ## Weather and pilot experience The pilot had reviewed the weather forecast before the flight and shared it with an instructor. Conditions were reported as wind from the southwest at 15 kt with gusts to 22 kt, visibility greater than 10 km, few clouds, a temperature of 18 °C, a dew point of 11 °C, and QNH 1,003. The pilot, aged 66, had 70 total flight hours, including eight hours in the preceding three months, all on type. This was the pilot’s seventh solo navigation flight. The pilot recalled the last wind reported by the controller as 210°/15 kt and believed the wind intensity had been underestimated. ## Sequence of events After touchdown on runway 30L, the aircraft’s trajectory turned to the left. The aircraft then exited the runway laterally and struck the perimeter fence, where it came to rest. The pilot stated that the crosswind effects were surprising at touchdown and did not recall using the flight controls to the stops to counter the crosswind. The pilot did not specify the actions taken on the rudder pedals. The demonstrated crosswind for the DR400-120 in the flight manual is 22 kt. ## Findings The BEA report notes that the information is based mainly on the pilot’s testimony and has not been independently validated by the BEA. The runway excursion was probably due to inappropriate pilot action on the flight controls during landing rollout. The BEA also referenced a 2006 study on technical control during landing and self-knowledge.