What happened
On the evening of December 13, 1998, a Cessna 172 M, registered F-GBOM, was conducting a night instructional flight at the Aubenas aerodrome. The aircraft was on final approach when the automated runway lighting suddenly extinguished. During the attempt to reactivate the lighting, the pilot momentarily lost visual references. As the student pilot initiated a go-around, the aircraft struck the treetops. The runway lighting restored itself shortly after the impact, allowing the crew to continue the landing sequence.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of visual references and the subsequent impact. Investigators examined the operational conditions at the time, noting a wind of 10 knots from 010° and visibility between 7 and 10 km. The crew consisted of an experienced instructor with over 17,000 flight hours and a student pilot with 10 total flight hours. The inquiry also reviewed the procedures for operating aerodromes equipped with radio-controlled lighting systems, specifically the protocols for activating and maintaining lighting via alternating radio signals.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a late go-around performed under degraded visual conditions.
- The sudden failure of the automated runway lighting caused the pilot to lose situational awareness and visual references.
- The aircraft sustained minor damage to the airframe following the collision with the trees.