What happened
On May 13, 2001, at 16:15, a Pottier P 230 S (amateur-built) with registration F-PARS was performing a private flight from Bourg-en-Bresse to Oyonnax. As the pilot was completing the flare for landing on runway 04, they observed a person crossing the runway while pursuing a dog directly in the aircraft's path. In an instinctive attempt to avoid a collision, the pilot applied back pressure on the control column. This maneuver resulted in an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground on its nose gear, causing it to break, and the aircraft slid into the adjacent grass area before coming to a halt.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase and the environmental conditions at the aerodrome. Investigators established that the pilot, who held a PPL since 1986 and had 470 total flight hours, reacted to an immediate obstacle on the runway. The investigation also noted the status of the airfield perimeter, finding that the aerodrome was not enclosed by a fence, relying instead on warning signs to prevent unauthorized access.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the intrusion of a person and a dog onto the runway.
- The pilot's evasive maneuver triggered a stall during the landing phase.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage to the propeller, the nose gear, the right main gear, and the floor structure.
- The lack of physical fencing at the aerodrome contributed to the possibility of unauthorized runway incursions.