Cessna 172 F-GDIY Runway Excursion at Brioude Beaumont

Overview and Flight Details On 19 February 2015, at approximately 12:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered F-GDIY was operating a general-aviation navigation flight from Brioude Beaumont aerodrome (43) to Saint-Étienne Bouthéon (42). The aircraft was operated by a club and carried one pilot and three passengers. The accident resulted in heavy damage to the aircraft. ## Sequence of Events According to the pilot’s account, the aircraft was aligned on the threshold of unimproved runway 33, which measured 870 m by 50 m, and takeoff power was set. During the takeoff roll, at mid-runway and a speed of 45 kt, the pilot judged that insufficient runway remained for takeoff and elected to abort. The pilot applied brakes but was unable to maintain directional control. The aircraft veered to the left, left the runway, and came to rest in a hedge of trees. ## Aircraft Examination and Meteorological Conditions Examination of the aircraft found the power control in the full-throttle position and the flap control at 0°, consistent with the actual flap position. The pilot reported calm wind and CAVOK conditions at the site. ## Pilot Experience and Testimony The pilot held a PPL(A) licence obtained in November 2012 and had 112 total flight hours, all on type, including 30 hours as pilot-in-command and 3 hours in the three months preceding the accident. The pilot stated that he had forgotten to reduce power when deciding to abort the takeoff, became focused on braking, and lost control of the aircraft’s trajectory. He also believed he had set the flaps to 10° (first notch) for takeoff. ## Weight, Balance, and Performance At the time of the event, the aircraft’s weight and centre of gravity were within the manufacturer’s limits, and the weight was close to the maximum takeoff weight. The flight manual specified that for a normal takeoff, flaps could be set at 0° or 10°, with a rotation speed of 55 kt. For a maximum-weight takeoff on a grass runway at 1,457 ft elevation, in calm wind with flaps at 0°, the takeoff roll distance was approximately 350 to 400 metres. ## Conclusion The accident resulted from the pilot’s incomplete application of the aborted-takeoff procedure, which led to a loss of control of the aircraft’s trajectory. The report notes that the “engine failure during takeoff” item in the pre-takeoff briefing is intended to prepare the pilot for the possibility of an aborted takeoff and to activate the relevant information and actions in working memory, given the highly dynamic nature of the takeoff phase.