What happened
On February 24, 2003, at 17:40, a Cessna 172 H, registration F-BOGZ, was involved in a ground accident during a training flight at Muret aerodrome. The instructor and student pilot were performing takeoff and landing practice on runway 12. Following standard procedure, the crew taxied the aircraft to the holding point and positioned the plane at a heading of 150 degrees.
During the pre-takeoff checks, the student pilot unexpectedly interrupted the magneto checks and released the controls to adjust their seat. At that moment, the left wing lifted. The instructor attempted to regain control by reducing engine power and cutting the ignition, but the aircraft began a slow forward and rightward tilt. The aircraft eventually came to rest supported by the propeller and the tip of the right wing.
The investigation
Investigators examined the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. On-site observations recorded winds from 120 degrees at 2t5 knots, with gusts reaching 40 knots. Visibility was greater than 8 km, the temperature was 10 °C, and the QNH was 1015 hPa. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's flight manual, which specifies a maximum crosswind component of 20 knots for takeoff.
Findings
- The decision to proceed with the flight despite strong winds exceeding the aircraft's operational limits.
- Insufficient vigilance by the instructor during the pre-takeoff phase.
- The student pilot's release of the flight controls during critical checks allowed the wind to lift the wing.