What happened
On March 8, 1997, a Jodel D 18, registration F-PYNG, was conducting a private flight from Cambrai to Maubeuge. Upon approaching the aerodrome, the pilot noted heavy traffic on the paved runway. Because the aircraft was not equipped with a radio, the pilot elected to land on the parallel grass runway instead of the paved surface.
Immediately upon touchdown, the aircraft decelerated sharply and veered to the right. The aircraft then struck the ground on its nose gear, coming to a halt after the nose gear collapsed. The impact resulted in a broken propeller.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the decision-making process regarding runway selection and the operational status of the grass runway. It was established that the grass runway was closed to traffic due to its saturated condition, a status that had been communicated to all users via a NOTAM. Furthermore, the Visual Approach Chart (VAC) for the aerodrome specified that the paved runway was reserved for aircraft equipped with radios and that simultaneous use of the two parallel runways was prohibited. The chart also noted that the unpaved runway was prone to flooding and required authorization from the aeronautical district for use.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the landing on a closed, waterlogged grass runway.
- The pilot's flight preparation was insufficient, as the landing site was known to be unavailable due to its condition.
- The aircraft's lack of radio equipment influenced the pilot's decision to deviate from the paved runway, leading to the use of the unauthorized grass strip.