What happened
On May 9, 1999, a Piper PA 28 (registration F-GHLY) was engaged in a training flight when it experienced a failed takeoff at Brioule aerodrome. The pilot had been flying from Lyon-Bron toward Saint-Flour and used GPS navigation to identify landmarks such as Le Puy. Upon arriving at Brioude, the pilot lined up on an unpaved runway reserved for gliders. Because of this offset alignment, the full length of the available runway was not utilized.
The runway surface was characterized by high grass and damp conditions. During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied full power while the brakes remained locked. As the aircraft accelerated, the pilot released the nose wheel. The aircraft briefly lifted off but then made contact with the ground again. Unable to clearly identify the end of the runway, the pilot continued the takeoff roll, eventually exiting the runway extremity and coming to a stop approximately 300 meters beyond the paved/usable area. There were no fatalities and no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the takeoff roll and the pilot's preparation. It was established that the pilot did not possess the appropriate visual approach and landing chart for Brioude aerodrome. Furthermore, the investigation examined the radio communications prior to the event, noting that the pilot had been in contact with the AFIS agent at Saint-Flour, but contact was lost during the flight, prompting an alert phase.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was insufficient flight preparation.
- The pilot failed to use the full available runway length due to improper alignment on the glider runway.
- The runway conditions, specifically high grass and moisture, contributed to the difficulty of the takeoff roll.
- The pilot lacked the necessary aeronautical charts for the destination aerodrome.