What happened
On January 22, 2005, at 6:40 AM, a private Piper PA 32-300 (registration F-BOLT) was conducting a visual flight from Pointe-à-Pitre to Saint-Barthélemy. The flight, carrying the pilot and five passengers, arrived over the airfield at approximately 1,200 feet. During the approach to runway 10, the pilot configured the aircraft with full flaps (40 degrees).
During the flare, the pilot experienced an unusual floating sensation and retracted the flaps to force the aircraft onto the runway. The aircraft touched down halfway down the runway. Believing the remaining runway distance was insufficient to stop, the pilot initiated a go-around. As the aircraft reached the end of the runway, the pilot applied full power and pulled back on the control column. The aircraft climbed briefly, flew over the beach at a low altitude, and subsequently struck the water approximately 20 meters from the shoreline. All occupants successfully evacuated the wreckage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's configuration and weight during the flight. It was determined that the pilot had used a flat estimate of 80 kg for each passenger during pre-flight planning without verifying actual weights. Consequently, the actual takeoff mass was approximately 1,600 kg, exceeding the maximum allowable takeoff and landing mass of 1,542 kg. Furthermore, the center of gravity was positioned forward, outside the manufacturer's prescribed limits.
The investigation also examined the pilot's approach technique. The pilot had chosen a touchdown point beyond the runway threshold and maintained a speed higher than recommended to compensate for turbulence. During the go-around, the pilot failed to properly reconfigure the aircraft for climb and did not monitor the airspeed indicator.
Findings
- The late decision to abort the landing led to the aircraft reaching the end of the runway with insufficient distance to safely execute a go-around.
- Insufficient flight preparation resulted in an inaccurate mass and balance calculation, with the aircraft operating above maximum weight and outside center of gravity limits.
- The pilot's failure to reconfigure the aircraft's flaps and monitor airspeed during the go-around contributed to the loss of control.