What happened
On March 1, 2013, a student pilot was conducting their first solo cross-country flight from Toulouse-Lasbordes to Rodez. Upon arriving at the Rodez Marcillac aerodrome, the pilot landed on runway 31, slightly to the left of the centerline. During the landing rollout, the Robin DR 400-160 suddenly veered to the right.
In an attempt to correct the swerve, the pilot applied left rudder; however, feeling the aircraft tilting to the right, the pilot subsequently applied symmetrical braking. This maneuver caused the aircraft to exit the runway to the right. As the aircraft left the paved surface, the right landing gear struck the concrete base of a runway edge light. After traveling approximately 80 meters across the grass, the right landing gear collapsed, bringing the aircraft to a stop.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Technical examination of the F-GYKI revealed no mechanical failures capable of causing the loss of directional control.
Investigators noted a significant discrepancy between the weather forecast used for flight planning and the actual conditions. While the earlier TAF predicted light winds from 340°, the actual conditions involved winds from 010° at 11 knots, with gusts reaching 22 knots. Observations from a commercial crew landing two hours later confirmed highly irregular wind patterns in the touchdown zone, likely caused by a nearby quarry located 500 meters north of the airfield. Furthermore, the investigation identified that the concrete base of the runway light, which protruded approximately 10 cm above the ground, acted as a non-frangible obstacle that contributed to the structural damage.
Findings
- The primary cause of the runway excursion was the pilot's inappropriate control inputs during the landing rollout.
- Unexpected turbulence, which was not anticipated during pre-flight planning, triggered the initial loss of control.
- The presence of a non-frangible concrete obstacle at the edge of the runway caused significant damage to the aircraft's landing gear and wing.