What happened
On Saturday, June 26, 1999, at 11:20 local time, a Cessna 150 L, registered F-BVXG, was involved in a ground incident at Pontoise airport. The aircraft, operated by a flying club, was being flown solo by a student pilot. The flight consisted of three circuit laps following a departure from runway 05.
After completing the circuit, the pilot landed normally, despite encountering a tailwind component ranging from 4 to 12 knots. Following the landing, the air traffic controller instructed the pilot to increase taxi speed to clear the runway quickly due to subsequent traffic. While executing a right-hand turn to exit the runway, the pilot maintained a high taxi speed. During the maneuver, the aircraft's propeller struck a left-side taxiway light.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the contact between the propeller and the airfield lighting. Investigators reviewed the meteorological conditions at the time, which were reported as CAVOK with a light wind from 200 degrees at 4 knots and gusts up to 12 knots. The investigation also examined the instructions provided by the controller and the pilot's maneuvers during the taxi phase.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an inappropriate taxi speed during the exit from the runway.
- The pilot followed instructions to accelerate the taxi to clear the runway for incoming traffic but failed to adjust the speed appropriately for the turn.
- The collision resulted in damage to the propeller.