What happened
On the evening of April 19, 1998, a Robin DR 300, registered F-BSJK, was performing a local flight at Lens aerodrome. During the landing phase on runway 27, the pilot approached the unpaved strip at a high indicated airspeed. As the end of the runway approached, the pilot applied full right rudder to attempt a turn before reaching the runway limit. This maneuver caused the aircraft to pivot on its yaw axis to the right, leading to a runway excursion into an adjacent cultivated field. The ground conditions were very soft, causing the left wingtip to sink into the soil and bringing the aircraft to a halt in a nose-up position. There were two persons on board, and the aircraft sustained minor damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight circumstances and the pilot's actions during the final approach and landing. Investigators noted that the pilot was distracted by a radio announcement regarding another aircraft landing on runway 21, which intersects runway 27. The meteorological conditions at the time included a wind from 150 degrees at 4 knots, with gusts reaching 16 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the insufficient monitoring of landing parameters by the pilot.
- The pilot's attention was diverted by radio communications regarding traffic on an intersecting runway.
- The use of aggressive rudder input at high speed contributed to the loss of directional control.