Flight Sequence
The aircraft, a Cessna 172S registered F-GCBY, operated by a flying club, departed Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole at 10:20 on a round trip to Île d'Yeu. After a fuel stop at La Roche-sur-Yon, the return leg began at 17:00. At 19:45, the pilot integrated into the downwind leg for runway 29R at Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole. The approach was conducted with full flaps at approximately 70 kt, against the manual's recommended 65 kt. The descent was steep due to trees near the runway threshold. During the flare, the aircraft began to gain altitude. The pilot released the controls and attempted a second flare, which caused the aircraft to rise further. Again releasing the controls, the aircraft touched down hard, resulting in the failure of the nose landing gear.
Pilot Information
The pilot held 97 total flight hours, with 27 as pilot-in-command since July 2012. In the preceding three months, the pilot had logged 3 hours 45 minutes, including 2 hours 35 on the accident type. This was the pilot's second flight with a passenger. Most flights were local, and the longest had been under three hours. On the accident day, the pilot had flown 5 hours 25 minutes, with three takeoffs and two landings. The pilot reported not feeling fatigued. The pilot did not perform a signal area check because four aircraft were already in the circuit.
Meteorological Conditions
According to the WINTEM chart valid at 20:00, winds in the region south of Paris were from the northeast at flight level 20. The 17:00 TAF for Toussus-le-Noble indicated wind from 030° at 10 kt. Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole has a windsock but no recorded meteorological data. At the time of the accident, the wind was estimated from 030° to 050° at 9 to 10 kt, providing a tailwind component for runway 29R.
Aftermath
The aircraft was heavily damaged. Following this accident and recent incidents, the operator implemented measures: during instruction, go-arounds and full-stop landings were to be preferred over touch-and-goes; increased emphasis on stabilization criteria, particularly approach speed; and a safety management system including a computer-based reporting tool.
Probable Cause
The investigation concluded that a steep final descent, an approach speed higher than recommended, and a tailwind component led to an excess of energy, causing the aircraft to regain altitude during the first flare. The report also noted that the pilot's possible fatigue from the long flight, to which he was unaccustomed, and the personal significance of the flight may have contributed to the decision to continue the landing after the initial missed flare.