Serious Incident Involving Socata Morane MS-893 E at Kecskéd Airport (HA-VEF)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On May 4, 2024, at 13:38 local time, a Socata Morane MS-893 E with registration HA-VEF was involved in a serious incident at Kecskéd Airport (LHKD). The aircraft, operated by Aeroclub Kecskéd, was manufactured by Socata Tarbes in France. The incident occurred during a practice flight, and the aircraft sustained significant damage, although no personal injuries were reported. ## Sequence of Events The pilot arrived at Kecskéd Airport at 08:00 local time for visual flight rules (VFR) practice flights. The airport was simultaneously hosting glider operations and an air event, with runway 33 in use. In the morning, the pilot completed three traffic patterns, totaling 21 minutes of flight time. The afternoon flight began at 13:28. After takeoff, the pilot left the traffic pattern and headed toward Tatabánya, then initiated an approach from Várgesztes at a distance of seven kilometers. During the tailwind approach to runway 33, the pilot reported that the aircraft had difficulty losing altitude. Following the initial touchdown, the propeller struck the ground. The aircraft then lifted back into the air and touched down again 8.8 meters later. It slid for 76.9 meters before coming to a rest. ## Damage and Investigation The incident resulted in the nose gear breaking off, significant damage to the propeller, and minor damage to the exhaust pipe. The Transportation Safety Organization (KBSZ) received the incident report late, preventing an immediate on-site inspection. A subsequent inspection of the aircraft and runway was conducted, and the pilot was interviewed. The investigation committee attributed the incident to an improperly executed landing. Contributing factors included the pilot's limited flight experience with the aircraft type, potential distraction due to emotional stress, and the condition of the runway. The KBSZ investigation committee did not identify any circumstances that would warrant the issuance of safety recommendations.