Aircraft collision with vehicle at Pau-Pyrénées Airport

1 fatality • Pau, France • Takeoff (climb)

An aircraft experienced severe lateral instability during takeoff at Pau-Pyrénées Airport, resulting in a collision with a truck and subsequent ground excursion.

What happened

During the takeoff roll on runway 13 at Pau-Pyrénées Airport, the aircraft began a normal acceleration before the pilot-in-command initiated rotation. Upon rotation, the aircraft experienced immediate and violent lateral oscillations, rolling left, then right, and left once more. This instability caused a loss of altitude, leading the aircraft to strike the ground and bounce.

As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 160 knots, the crew decreased engine power. During this phase, the aircraft drifted to the right side of the runway, eventually striking a perimeter fence. The sequence culminated in a collision with a truck traveling on a nearby road. The impact caused both main landing gears to be detached from the aircraft. The plane then slid on its fuselage before coming to a stop in an open field, situated 535 metres beyond the runway threshold.

Outcomes

  • All 54 occupants of the aircraft were evacuated without injury.
  • The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
  • The driver of the truck sustained fatal injuries.
  • A passenger in the truck suffered serious injuries.

Probable cause

Severe lateral rolling instability during the rotation phase of takeoff led to a loss of altitude and subsequent collision with a perimeter fence and a road vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2007-01-25 Fokker 100 accident near Pau, France?

An aircraft experienced severe lateral instability during takeoff at Pau-Pyrénées Airport, resulting in a collision with a truck and subsequent ground excursion.

Were there any fatalities in the 2007-01-25 Fokker 100 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2007-01-25 involved a Fokker 100, registration F-GMPG, operated by Regional Airlines, at Pau, France.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Severe lateral rolling instability during the rotation phase of takeoff led to a loss of altitude and subsequent collision with a perimeter fence and a road vehicle.

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