What happened
On Saturday, August 2, 1997, at 11:49, an American Champion Super Decathlon, registration F-GSAL, was performing a local flight at Chartres aerodrome. During the landing roll on runway 10, the aircraft began to veer toward the left. In an attempt to correct the deviation, the pilot applied power to initiate a go-around. However, this maneuver caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the right, leading it to exit the runway. The aircraft subsequently collided with a hay bale located approximately 20 meters from the right edge of the runway.
The investigation
Investigators examined the runway environment and the procedures regarding airfield maintenance. The investigation established that a hay bale was present within the cleared area of the runway. According to the specific regulations governing grass harvesting rights on the aerodrome grounds, mown grass is prohibited from being piled on the field; instead, it must be removed progressively. The regulations allow for grass to be spread or deployed for drying purposes only outside of aeronautical use zones. The presence of the bale in the runway's vicinity was a key focus of the inquiry.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of directional control during the landing roll.
- The presence of an obstacle (a hay bale) within the cleared runway area contributed to the severity of the impact.
- The aircraft sustained heavy damage during the collision.