What happened
On August 20, 2002, at 20:25 local time, a Socata Tobago TB 10, registration EC-FTE, was performing a solo instructional flight at Salamanca Airport. During the landing phase, as the aircraft was on its landing roll, it exited the runway via a taxiway exit. The aircraft drifted toward the right margin of the runway, resulting in a runway excursion.
The aircraft sustained damage to the nose wheel, propeller tips, the lower engine area, the oil pan, and the left wingtip. The pilot, an 18-year-old student with 26 total flight hours, sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot attempted to minimize the time spent on the runway by accelerating the engine as the aircraft approached the taxiway exit. In an effort to decelerate, the pilot applied asymmetric braking. This maneuver led to a skid that the pilot could not stabilize, causing the aircraft to drift toward the left. In the subsequent attempt to regain control and counteract the leftward movement, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, leading to the excursion on the right side of the runway.
Findings
- The pilot was performing a solo instructional flight with limited flight experience (26 hours).
- Atmospheric conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10,000 meters and winds at 4 knots without gusts.
- The pilot applied asymmetric braking at an excessive longitudinal speed, which prevented effective control of the aircraft.