What happened
On September 16, 2000, a Cessna 152, registration F-GCHL, departed from Avignon Caumont for a flight involving circuit patterns at Valréas. During the second landing attempt at Valréas, the aircraft bounced several times, causing the nose gear to strike the unpaved runway with significant force. Following this impact, the pilot initiated a go-around and intended to return to the departure airfield.
Witnesses of the initial impact notified the air traffic controller at Avignon Caumont, who requested the pilot perform a visual check near the control tower. The controller informed the pilot that the nose gear appeared deformed. After consulting with an instructor at the tower, the pilot elected to attempt a landing on the grass runway 17 at Valréas. Emergency services were placed on alert.
During the final approach, the pilot maintained a speed of 60 knots and applied full braking upon touchdown. As the nose gear contacted the ground, the aircraft veered to the left, exited the runway, struck a pylon, and came to rest on its back. The pilot and one passenger were on board, with the pilot sustaining injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight parameters during the final approach and the sequence of the landing. The pilot reported that during the short final at Valréas, he believed the aircraft was above the glide path and performed a nose-down maneuver to maintain his touchdown point. The pilot estimated that the aircraft, with flaps set at 20 degrees, touched down at a speed between 75 and 80 knots. This was compared against the manufacturer's recommended approach speed of 55 to 65 knots for the Cessna 152 with flaps extended.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unstabilized final approach.
- The aircraft touched down at a speed significantly higher than the recommended 55–65 knot range.
- The pilot's corrective maneuver to stay on the glide path contributed to the high touchdown speed.