Flight Overview
Air France Flight 7638, a Boeing 737-228, operated a domestic flight from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to Biarritz. The co-pilot served as pilot flying (PF). En route, approximately one hour before arrival, the crew listened to the ATIS, which reported visibility of 10 km, a headwind of 15 to 30 kt, and rain. During the descent toward Biarritz, air traffic control provided an avoidance heading to bypass a thunderstorm cell.
Approach and Weather
The flight was cleared for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) Category I approach for runway 27. In the four minutes prior to landing, the visibility was 1500 meters in a squall, with wind at 6 kt gusting to 3 kt, and its direction varying from 250° to 290°, with fluctuations up to 330°. The reference landing speed (Vref) was 129 kt, and the approach speed (Vapp) was 149 kt. The controller cleared the flight for landing and reported wind from 250° at 16 kt, gusts to 30 kt, accompanied by heavy rain.
Sequence of Events
The first officer disconnected the autopilot and autothrottle at approximately 1200 ft while established on the ILS. As the aircraft descended through 1100 ft, the captain observed the runway ahead. On short final, the controller updated the wind information to 280° at 15 to 30 kt. The aircraft gradually deviated left of the centerline, prompting the captain to say "a little to the left." The aircraft then gradually returned to align with the runway centerline. The PF banked the aircraft left as it slightly overshot the centerline.
Landing and Runway Excursion
The aircraft passed the threshold approximately 4 m to the right of the centerline, parallel to it and with wings level. The PF initiated the flare with a slight left bank. Thrust reduction occurred a few seconds later. The left main landing gear touched down first at an indicated airspeed of 148 kt, while the aircraft was 12 m left of the runway centerline. The aircraft then moved 7 m further left, rolling only on the left main gear for about two seconds. The PF applied control column and rudder inputs to steer right. The right main gear touched down while the left wheels were approximately 3 m from the runway edge. The PF corrected the trajectory using rudders but without full deflection. The aircraft exited the runway on the left side at a speed of 133 kt. The nose gear struck a concrete light support and broke. The right main gear was damaged. The aircraft rolled approximately 400 m off the runway, coming to rest near the runway, 1150 m from the threshold.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the pilot flying experienced wind rotation below decision altitude without awareness of the crosswind corrections needed during the flare. He lacked the necessary availability to analyze the reasons for destabilization on short final. Without crew communication, the pilot flying acted alone, with few external references, and became overloaded during touchdown. The runway slope also limited the pilots' forward visibility.