What happened
On February 26, 2009, a Robin DR 400-180, registration F-GMXV, departed from Montbéliard for a flight to Pontarlier with three passengers on board. During the flight, the pilot observed snow covering the ground extending to the destination. Upon arrival at Pontarlier, the pilot identified cleared parking areas and nearby hangars but found it difficult to pinpoint the exact runway location. After performing a reconnaissance flight at 1,500 feet, the pilot noted tracks on the runway left by a ski-equipped aircraft and decided to proceed with an approach to runway 20.
The pilot entered a downwind pattern, intending to execute a go-around if necessary. During the approach, the pilot flew a trajectory below the standard glide path to better assess the snow depth. As the pilot realized the snow thickness was significant, they attempted to initiate a go-around. However, the aircraft made contact with the runway approximately 150 meters from the threshold before the pilot could adjust the pitch or power. The aircraft slid for about 30 meters and came to a stop after a 90-degree left turn. The impact caused damage to the nose gear, the right main gear, the left wing, and the propeller. There were no fatalities or injuries among the four occupants.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's decision-making process, the meteorological conditions, and the available information at the time of the flight. The investigation established that while the pilot had consulted NOTAMs and visual approach charts—which noted the possibility of snow on the runways—they did not contact the local aero club to verify runway conditions. The pilot also attempted to use airport webcams to check the runway status, but one camera was non-functional and the other could not be accessed via computer.
Findings
- The pilot decided to continue the approach without having sufficient visual references to accurately estimate the aircraft's height relative to the snow-covered runway.
- The pilot did not perform a low-altitude pass over the runway to specifically assess the depth of the snow accumulation.
- The lack of clearly defined criteria for making a landing decision contributed to the accident.
- The pilot's previous training had permitted solo operations on snow-covered runways at Montbéliard, but those conditions involved only approximately 5 cm of snow, whereas the conditions at Pontarlier involved 25 cm of snow accumulation.