What happened
On July 2, 2002, a Socata TB 20, registration F-GGNV, was performing a solo navigation flight as part of a training program. The flight originated from Carcassonne, with the pilot intending to perform a landing and immediate takeoff at Montpellier Méditerranée airport before returning to Carcassonne via Alès.
During the approach to runway 31 left, the aircraft was in landing configuration at approximately 80 knots. The aircraft achieved a three-point touchdown, but subsequently experienced a significant bounce. Hesitating to touch down a second time due to the height of the bounce, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. While the aircraft was already in a nose-up attitude, the pilot applied full power. At an altitude of approximately five meters, the aircraft stalled on the left wing and struck the ground with significant force. The impact caused the engine to separate from the airframe, and the aircraft veered off the runway into the grass. The pilot evacuated the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing and the execution of the go-around maneuver. Investigators examined the aircraft's configuration, the meteorological conditions (winds 320° at 15 knots, visibility 50 km), and the pilot's experience level. The analysis centered on the aerodynamic behavior of the Socata TB 20 during the transition from the bounce to the application of power.