What happened
On February 12, 2000, a trainee pilot was operating a Cessna 172 K Skyhawk, registration F-BXAT, on a solo flight. The flight began with a circuit pattern accompanied by an instructor, after which the trainee continued to Orléans Saint-Denis de l'Hôtel. Following a brief stop in Orléans, the pilot departed for Les Mureaux. During the return leg, the pilot noted deteriorating weather conditions near Étampes.
Upon arriving at Les Mureleaux, the pilot observed the wind direction from the west, roughly aligned with runway 28. As the aircraft reached the flare stage of the landing, a sudden, violent gust from the right destabilized the plane. The pilot was unable to react in time, causing the aircraft to drift to the left and resulting in the left wing striking the ground off the unpaved runway. The pilot managed to regain control and taxi the aircraft back to the parking area.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making regarding weather and the aerodynamic conditions at the airfield. Investigators noted that while the initial weather forecast was favorable, the flight duration exceeded the original plan, placing the return during a period of increased wind intensity.
Evidence was gathered regarding local meteorological phenomena. The instructor involved in the earlier flight pattern noted that trees near the final approach for runway 28 often cause significant turbulence during westerly winds. Additionally, the airfield manager reported experiencing violent gusts from the north at the time of the accident. The investigation also found that the trainee pilot had not been specifically warned about these localized turbulence risks.