What happened
On August 18, 2001, at approximately 07:40 UTC, a collision occurred at the Propriano Aerodrome involving two light aircraft. The first aircraft, a Cessna 177 RG (registration F-BVIY), was performing its takeoff roll on runway 28 after completing engine tests. During its acceleration phase, the pilot observed a Cessna 182 E (registration F-BKRA) taxiing toward the runway.
The pilot of the F-BVIY heard the pilot of the F-BKRA announce intentions to line up and depart immediately. However, the Cessna 182 E entered the runway without stopping at the designated hold bar. To avoid a direct impact, the pilot of the F-SBVIY executed an evasive maneuver, banking the aircraft to the right. During this maneuver, the left wing of the F-BVIY passed over the right wing of the F-BKRA, resulting in a collision. The F-BVIY sustained damage to its pitot tube, while the F-BKRA suffered damage to its wingtip and wing structure. There were no fatalities and no injuries reported among the occupants of either aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA investigation focused on the movements of both aircraft and the operational environment at Propriano. The investigation established that the pilot of the F-BVIY had followed all regulatory procedures, including radio communications and engine testing. The investigation also scrutinized the pilot of the F-BKRA, noting that his medical certificate was invalid due to being issued by a physician whose authorization had expired.
Furthermore, the investigation examined the operational habits of the parachuting school based at the aerodrome. It was noted that the pilot of the F-BKRA had been involved in a similar incident involving a priority violation just one day prior. The investigation also looked into the lack of an active AFIS service at the time, as the aerodrome relied on self-information via radio.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was a lack of vigilance by the pilot of the F-BKRA.
- Established operational habits, specifically the practice of announcing and immediately entering the runway for parachute jump sorties, contributed significantly to the accident.
- The pilot of the F-BKately was likely distracted by the process of boarding parachutists, which included increased ambient noise and communications.
- The pilot of the F-BKRA failed to visually confirm the runway was clear or observe the approaching F-BVIY.
- The high frequency of repetitive flights for parachute operations may have led to a dangerous routine of minimizing ground time.