What happened
On Sunday, June 22, 1997, at 12:40 local time, a Rutan Cosy amateur-built aircraft, registration F-PRSC, was performing a local flight at Montpellier Méditerranée Airport. The flight involved two occupants, including a 65-year-old pilot with 669 total flight hours.
During the approach to runway 31, the pilot established a stabilized long final. While descending, the pilot became preoccupied with information displayed on a newly acquired GPS unit. The aircraft touched down on the grass approximately four meters before the runway threshold. As the aircraft transitioned onto the paved surface, the landing gear struck the runway pavement with significant force. This impact caused the right main landing gear to detach from the airframe and resulted in the propeller striking the runway and breaking.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the structural failure of the landing gear and the pilot's focus during the final approach. Investigators examined the aircraft's contact with the runway surface and the impact of the gear against the pavement.