What happened
On Tuesday, October 30, 2001, a Cessna 172M, registered F-BVIA, was performing a solo training flight at the Pontoise aerodrome. While executing a landing on runway 23, the pilot conducted a final approach at 70 knots with 10 degrees of flaps. During the landing sequence, the aircraft made initial contact with the main landing gear, which resulted in a bounce.
In an attempt to land within the remaining runway length, the pilot maintained an engine speed of approximately 1,700 RPM. A second, more severe bounce occurred after the pilot performed a late flare. Following this second impact, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of roughly ten meters before stalling. Although the pilot applied full power, the aircraft returned to the runway in a three-point landing position. The force of the impact caused the nose landing gear to break. The pilot applied heavy braking, but the aircraft eventually came to a halt in the grass to the right of the runway, approximately 700 meters from the threshold.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making during the landing phase and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the flight parameters, including the approach speed and flap configuration, as well as the meteorological data. The investigation also considered the impact of solar positioning on the pilot's visual perception of the aircraft's altitude during the flare.