What happened
On 14 June 2023, a Robin DR40-140B, registration F-GOOF, was conducting a cross-country flight from Chavenay to Pressignac-Vicq Rebeyrotte. The flight involved two legs, with a stop in Royan. Upon arriving at the unpaved runway 19 at Pressignac-Vicq, the pilot attempted a landing that resulted in the aircraft bouncing twice. Unable to maintain visual contact with the runway after the second bounce, the pilot initiated a go-around.
During the subsequent second approach, the pilot turned onto the base leg prematurely to avoid flying over a nearby farm. This resulted in a short, non-stabilized final approach. The aircraft touched down approximately 500 m after the runway threshold, left of the centerline, at an excessive speed of approximately 120 km/h. Following touchdown, the aircraft deviated further to the left, exited the runway, crossed the perimeter fence, and collided with trees. The accident resulted in two severe injuries and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's wreckage, the runway conditions, and the pilot's flight history. Investigators noted that the engine was still transmitting torque to the propeller at the time of the impact. The runway was dry with short grass, and meteorological conditions were clear with a light 9-knot wind.
Evidence from the pilot's statement indicated that the pilot had performed a strenuous bicycle excursion during the stop in Royan, which may have contributed to fatigue. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the aerodrome charts, finding that the pilot's decision to bypass a farm led to a significantly shortened base leg and an unstable approach path.
Findings
- The pilot failed to stabilize the approach speed and flight path during the second attempt.
- A failure to properly study the aerodrome chart led the pilot to turn onto the base leg too early to avoid an obstacle.
- The pilot did not account for the tailwind component during the final approach.
- Fatigue from the day's activities may have caused a loss of clear-headedness, preventing the pilot from aborting the unstable approach.