What happened
On 12 August 2022, a Robin DR400-160, registration F-HACQ, was conducting a cross-country flight from Cahors-Lalbenque to Bagnères-de-Luchon. The aircraft, operated by Aéroclub du Quercy, was carrying a pilot and two passengers.
While approaching runway 19, the pilot determined the aircraft was too high on the approach slope and decided to abort the landing. After passing the runway threshold, the pilot increased power to initiate a go-around but failed to retract the flaps from their landing configuration. Witnesses observed the aircraft climbing at a steep angle and low speed, exhibiting oscillations around the roll axis. The aircraft subsequently stalled on its right wing and struck treetops before impacting the ground on a nearby golf course. The impact was followed by a significant fire that engulfed the cabin, though the three slightly injured occupants were successfully evacuated by a bystander before the wreckage was destroyed.
The investigation
The BEA investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the aborted landing and the specific operational challenges of the Bagnères-de-Luchun aerodrome. Investigators examined the aircraft's configuration, noting that the flaps remained extended during the climb. The investigation also reviewed the aerodrome's Visual Aerodrome Chart (VAC) and the pilot's familiarity with the specific risks of south-facing approaches in mountainous terrain. Evidence from witnesses and radar recordings helped establish that the aircraft was flying on the backside of the power curve during the maneuver.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the accident, primarily centered on the unstable approach and the subsequent loss of control. Key findings included:
- The pilot initiated a late go-around at a low altitude, likely due to an unstabilized approach on a steep slope.
- The pilot failed to reconfigure the aircraft by retracting the flaps, which prevented the necessary acceleration to maintain climb speed.
- The high density altitude and the lack of a visible natural horizon during the turn likely led the pilot to adopt an excessive pitch attitude.
- The pilot was not fully aware of the specific risks associated with aborting a south-facing approach in this mountainous environment.
- The aerodrome's VAC instructions did not sufficiently emphasize the difficulty of a low-height go-around or the hazards of the south-facing arrival path.