What happened
On July 9, 2015, a Robin DR400-180, registration F-GABT, was conducting a series of flights between Bellegarde Vouvray, La Mole, and Lyon Bron. During the afternoon, the pilot decided to land at the Corlier altiport. After performing a reconnaissance pass of the airfield, the pilot aligned for the final approach to runway 12.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft landed beyond the midpoint of the runway and experienced a bounce. Realizing the aircraft's speed was too high to stop before reaching the embankment at the end of the runway, the pilot applied heavy braking and attempted a heavy braking maneuver (cheval de bois). This resulted in the failure of the nose gear, causing the aircraft to flip onto its back. The accident resulted in two light injuries and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the meteorological conditions, the pilot's flight history, and the airfield infrastructure. At the time of the accident, winds were reported from the north-northwest at 14 knots, with gusts reaching 25 knots. The pilot had consulted weather forecasts prior to departure, which indicated lighter winds in the region.
Investigators noted that the single windsock available at the altiport was positioned near the threshold of runway 12, but was obscured by surrounding terrain, preventing it from providing an accurate indication of wind direction and strength. While the pilot performed a reconnaissance pass, this maneuver did not alert him to the actual wind intensity. The investigation also considered the pilot's experience, noting he held a mountain rating and frequently landed at this location.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was performing a landing in unfavorable aerological conditions that the pilot failed to detect during the initial reconnaissance.
- Accumulated fatigue from the day's flight schedule may have contributed to a lack of vigilance.
- The windsock's position relative to the terrain hindered the pilot's ability to assess the true wind strength.