What happened
On March 9, 2002, a Robin DR 400-160, registration F-GOVQ, was conducting a local pleasure flight from Annecy-Haute-Savoie Airport. After departing runway 22, the pilot noted deteriorating weather conditions at 5,500 feet and decided to return to the aerodrome. Due to increasing crosswind components, the pilot requested permission to land on the unpaved runway 04, a procedure recommended by the flight club for high crosswind scenarios.
During the final approach, the pilot experienced significant turbulence and struggled to maintain the required airspeed of 130 km/h while using two flaps increments. As the aircraft descended to approximately 200 feet, the pilot realized the aircraft had drifted several dozen meters to the left of the runway centerline. In an attempt to execute a go-around, the pilot applied power; however, the aircraft gained speed only slightly before experiencing a sudden loss of altitude. The pilot encountered severe difficulties controlling the aircraft's pitch and roll. The left wing struck a paved taxiway approximately 200 meters before the start of the grass runway, causing the aircraft to bounce and slide for another 200 meters before coming to a halt between the two runways.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path deviation and the execution of the missed approach. Investigators examined the aircraft's configuration, noting that the flaps were in the landing position and the carburetor heat was engaged at the time of impact. The investigation also analyzed the local topography and meteorological conditions, noting that the surrounding terrain contributes to turbulence during final approach under the wind conditions present during the accident.
Findings
- The pilot failed to perceive the lateral deviation from the runway centerline in a timely manner.
- The actions taken to execute the missed approach were incomplete, leading to a sudden sink rate.
- Significant turbulence, driven by the local terrain and wind conditions, contributed to the difficulty in maintaining the aircraft's flight path and stability.