Flight Sequence
On 1 September 2013 at 15:25 local time, a Cessna 185 (registration F-BVJU) was conducting its ninth parachute drop flight of the day. After dropping the parachutists, the pilot entered a final approach for runway 04 at Le Havre-Octeville aerodrome. The air traffic controller reported wind from 320° at 10 knots. The pilot performed a wheel landing (two-point touchdown on the main landing gear with the tailwheel raised) with full flaps, as was his habit. During deceleration, with the control stick held forward into the wind, the tail of the aircraft began to lower. The pilot reported that the aircraft then turned sharply to the left and the tail lifted. His rudder and elevator inputs were ineffective. The left wing rose, the right wingtip struck the ground, and the aircraft flipped onto its back.
Witness Reports
A pilot waiting at the holding point of runway 04 observed the approach and landing, which appeared stable. He looked away briefly during the deceleration phase; when he looked again, the left wing and tail were raised. His passenger noted that the windsock indicated an unstable wind, with direction oscillating between direct crosswind and slightly from behind. The controller also watched the landing but looked away when the speed seemed controlled; seconds later he saw the aircraft inverted on the runway.
Meteorological Information
The METAR at the time reported wind from 330° at 8 knots, varying between 290° and 350°, visibility over 10 km, no significant clouds, and temperature 17°C. The controller's wind report was a two-minute average, while the METAR average was over ten minutes. Extreme directions are reported only if they differ by at least 60°, so the available data did not reflect the instantaneous wind experienced by the pilot.
Pilot Experience
The pilot held a commercial pilot license and an instructor rating issued in 2011. He had accumulated approximately 850 flight hours, including 48 hours on type and 74 hours in the preceding three months (31 on type). He also worked as an instructor at the local aero club.
Conclusions
The investigation found that the approach and landing were stable until deceleration on the runway. The abrupt destabilization occurred at low speed, where control surface effectiveness was reduced; the pilot could not correct the trajectory despite inputting correct control deflections relative to the known wind. Tailwheel aircraft are inherently unstable during ground phases due to the center of gravity being aft of the main landing gear, leading to a tendency to weathervane into the wind.