What happened
On January 11, 2015, a Robin DR400-120, registration F-GMKS, was returning to the Les Sables d’Olonne Talmont aerodrome following a local flight with two passengers. During the initial approach for runway 24, the pilot was blinded by the sun and considered diverting to runway 06. However, due to other traffic in the circuit and the risk of a crosswind component, the pilot decided to continue the approach to runway 24.
During the second final approach, the pilot used his left hand to shield his eyes from the sun, which helped maintain the descent path and runway centerline. However, at an altitude between 300 and 500 feet, the pilot moved his hand to the throttle, leaving his vision unprotected. At a low altitude, the pilot identified white and red markers which he mistook for the threshold of the paved runway. As he attempted to flare, the aircraft contacted the soft grass surface approximately 30 meters before the end of the paved runway. The impact caused the left main landing gear to break, causing the aircraft to skid and come to a halt on the unpaved surface. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation established that at the time of the accident, the sun was very low on the horizon (approximately 5 degrees) and positioned at a bearing of 231°, which was nearly aligned with the runway 24 axis (244°). The investigators examined the visibility conditions, noting that the glare was likely intensified by sunlight reflecting off the nearby Atlantic coast and the cleanliness of the aircraft's canopy.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to move his hand from his brow to the throttle left him vulnerable to extreme sun glare.
- The lack of sufficient visual references prevented the pilot from realizing he had drifted off the paved runway and was descending below the proper glide path.
- The pilot's failure to check the cleanliness of the canopy before flight may have contributed to the glare.
- The investigation noted that the pilot's failure to account for the sun's position prior to flight—which might have prompted him to wear a cap—was a contributing factor.