What happened
On July 28, 2006, a Robin DR 400-120 aircraft, registration F-GTMP, was performing a solo navigation flight at the Toulouse Lasbordes aerodrome. After a one-hour flight, the student pilot joined the aerodrome circuit. Instead of performing a full landing as originally planned with an instructor, the pilot opted to execute a touch-and-go maneuver to accumulate more flight time ahead of a scheduled private pilot license (PPL) practical exam the following day.
During the final approach, the pilot attempted to compensate for crosswind effects using the rudder. During the short final phase, the pilot's attention shifted between the cockpit interior and checking the flap positions. The aircraft touched down to the right of the runway centerline, making contact with the left main landing gear followed by the right main gear.
As the nose wheel made contact with the ground, the pilot felt the aircraft deviate sharply to the left. Surprised by this movement, the pilot failed to take corrective action on the controls. Believing the aircraft could continue along the grass verge of the adjacent ultralight runway, the pilot allowed the aircraft to veer off the paved surface. The aircraft traveled approximately 200 meters on the grass, parallel to the runway. Despite a sudden rudder input, the pilot was unable to avoid a concrete slab. The left main landing gear struck the slab, causing the aircraft to come to a halt.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the ground markings at the site. While two instructors on the ground and the air traffic controller observed that the aircraft appeared correctly established on final approach, ground tracks indicated that the aircraft's trajectory at the moment of the main gear touchdown was actually converging toward the runway centerline. The investigation established that the pilot did not realize the aircraft's orientation relative to the runway centerline had been compromised by the crosswind until the nose wheel touched the ground.