What happened
On Thursday, May 14, 1998, at 12:45 local time, a SOCATA TB 9, registered F-GLAF, was performing a solo cross-country flight from Châlon to Lyon Bron. During the approach to runway 34, the aircraft experienced a heavy touchdown and subsequently bounced. During the second impact, the nose gear assembly failed. The impact caused extensive damage to the airframe, including a severed nose gear strut, a crushed firewall, and a broken engine mount. Additionally, the left wing upper surface was deformed at the root, and the propeller was bent.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight parameters during the final approach. The pilot, a trainee with 33 total hours of flight time on type, reported that the aircraft was not properly configured for a stable landing. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were favorable, characterized by calm winds, CAVOK visibility, and a temperature of 26 °C.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unstabilized approach, specifically characterized by an excessive rate of descent and excessive airspeed during the final approach phase.