What happened
On the early morning of February 28, 2009, a series of night departures took place at the Enghien-Moisselles aerodrome as part of an organized flight outing by the "Les Ailerons" flying club. The departures occurred during a period of dark night and intermittent dense fog.
The first incident involved a Robin DR 40 and-140 B, registration F-GJQA. Shortly after rotating at approximately 100 km/h, the pilot heard the stall warning and noted that the airspeed was not increasing. In an attempt to accelerate in level flight, the pilot reduced the pitch, causing the aircraft to deviate left and strike the top of a pear tree and a fence. The aircraft managed to regain altitude and landed safely at Saint-Florentin.
Approximately eight minutes later, a Cessna 172 S, registration F-HFPA, departed for a night flight instruction session. After rotation at roughly 50 knots, the aircraft veered to the right, crossing the right side of the runway 25 threshold. The aircraft then struck pear trees in an orchard approximately 260 meters from the runway 07 centerline, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft. All three occupants of the Cessna survived the impact without injury.
The investigation
The BEA investigation examined the flight trajectories using GPS data and radar tracks. The investigators analyzed the aircraft's technical condition, including the maintenance history of the Cessna 172 S, which had recently undergone a 1,000-hour inspection. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, noting that while the area was not entirely covered in fog, dense patches were present. Furthermore, the investigators reviewed the local night VFR procedures and the oversight provided by the flying club and the civil aviation authority.