What happened
On January 31, 2009, a Flight Design CTSW ultralight, identified as 50-OJ, was conducting a flight from Lessay to Granville. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and one passenger. Upon arriving at Granville, the pilot established a pattern for runway 17(1) in a tailwind component.
During the approach, the pilot aborted the approach twice after determining the aircraft was too high while flying at 10/0 km/h with flaps extended. On the third attempt, while flying the downwind leg, the pilot reduced speed to 85 km/h. As the aircraft entered the final turn at an altitude of approximately 150 feet, the aircraft entered a slip and subsequently stalled. The aircraft struck the ground before the runway threshold and overturned onto its back. The pilot sustained slight injuries, and the aircraft was damaged.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's approach path and the visual cues used for landing. The pilot was familiar with the Granville aerodrome but typically utilized the paved runway. On this occasion, the pilot intended to use runway 17 for the first time.
Investigators identified a non-paved parking area located near the threshold of runway 17, marked by yellow markers. This parking area was not indicated on the visual approach chart. The pilot was unaware of this parking area and misidentified the row of yellow markers as the threshold of runway 17, which was actually located approximately 150 meters further south. Consequently, the pilot planned a touchdown point based on this incorrect visual reference.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was insufficient monitoring of airspeed during the final turn, which led to the stall.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's misinterpretation of ground markings, specifically mistaking the yellow markers of an unpaved parking area for the runway threshold.
- The aircraft was not equipped with a stall warning device.
- The pilot's decision to land on runway 17 for the first time, combined with the presence of an experienced passenger, may have influenced the approach decision.