What happened
On June 30, 2001, a Cessna 172 M Skyhawk, registration F-BUMY, was engaged in a private flight from Brive to Egletons. While flying over the private airfield at Lagarde-Enval, the pilot decided to attempt an unplanned landing at the site.
The pilot approached the unpaved runway from the east with excessive altitude and airspeed. During the approach, the aircraft flew at a very low altitude along the entire length of the runway. In an attempt to complete the landing, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft toward a field located just beyond the end of the runway. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck trees bordering the field, causing heavy damage to the aircraft. There were no reported injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot had no prior experience landing at this specific airfield. Although the airfield owner had previously warned the pilot about the runway's unique characteristics—specifically its limited length and the presence of trees along the perimeter—and had suggested that the pilot's first landing be supervised, these precautions were not in place. Furthermore, the airfield's specific operating instructions mandate that landings should be performed facing west, whereas the pilot approached from the east.
Findings
- The pilot failed to execute a go-around despite approaching the runway with excessive speed and height.
- The accident was caused by the decision to attempt an improvised landing at an unfamiliar airfield with specific operational hazards.