What happened
On June 29, 2008, a Socata MS 893 Rallye (registration F-BUXP) was conducting a local instructional flight at Périgueux aerodrome. The flight crew, consisting of an instructor and a student pilot, was performing maneuvers to practice using a variable-pitch propeller. During the downwind leg at 600 feet, the instructor directed the pilot to set the flaps to 8° and adjust the propeller to full fine pitch.
While on final approach at 300 feet, the pilot noticed an obstacle—a tree—aligned with the runway centerline. To clear the obstacle, the pilot increased power and leveled the aircraft before resuming the descent. The aircraft touched down approximately two meters before the runway threshold. The impact was a hard landing, and the aircraft traveled several dozen meters along the runway before veering off to the right. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cockpit dynamics and the preparation for the flight. It was established that the instructor was preoccupied with reviewing the aerodrome chart and adjusting radio equipment during the final approach. Consequently, the instructor did not notice that the aircraft had fallen below the glide path.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that while the instructor had explained the mechanical operation of the variable-pitch propeller, there was no formal briefing regarding the specific flight program or the division of responsibilities between the two occupants. The student pilot reported feeling uneasy due to his lack of experience with variable-pitch propeller controls, yet he did not seek intervention, assuming the instructor would take control if necessary. The instructor admitted to a decrease in vigilance, stemming from an overestimation of the student pilot's proficiency.
Findings
- Insufficient flight preparation, specifically the lack of a clear briefing regarding task sharing and the session's objectives.
- Mutual overconfidence between the instructor and the student pilot, which led to a breakdown in effective monitoring and communication.