What happened
On February 18, 2018, a Robin DR400-120, registration F-GFXN, departed from Chavenay Villepreux for a local flight. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the pilot entered the downwind leg to land on runway 23. As the aircraft approached the flare, the pilot was suddenly blinded by the sun. Consequently, the aircraft landed off the runway, positioned between the runway edge lights and the taxiway edge lights near the intersection.
The ground controller (SOL) was alerted to the incident when other aircraft waiting at the runway 23 holding point reported that an aircraft had landed directly in front of them on the taxiway. At the time of the event, the sun was low in the sky, positioned almost directly along the axis of runway 23, creating significant glare.
The investigation
The BEA investigation examined several factors, including the airfield configuration, meteorological conditions, and the pilot's recent flight history. The airfield had recently reopened after a two-month closure due to winter weather. The investigation noted that the controller (LOC) was managing multiple aircraft with potentially conflicting trajectories at the time, which diverted attention away from the visual alignment of F-GFXN during its final approach.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's experience and equipment. The pilot had not flown for three months due to the airfield closure and was wearing photochromic glasses that adjust to light levels, but was not wearing a cap. The investigation also noted that the airfield management had previously addressed sun glare issues in safety communications, recommending that pilots execute a go-around if visibility is compromised.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot continuing the landing approach despite being blinded by the sun, believing the aircraft remained aligned with the runway.
- The pilot's lack of recent flying experience, following a three-month hiatus, may have contributed to an undetected lateral deviation caused by a slight crosswind.
- The pilot may have misidentified the runway, taxiway, or the grass strip between them as the active runway, potentially aided by the visual presence of other aircraft at the holding point.
- Air traffic controllers were focused on managing other traffic in the circuit, which prevented them from detecting the aircraft's misalignment during the final approach.
- The sun's low position relative to the runway axis created a high risk of glare, a known recurring issue at this location.