What happened
On Sunday, September 13, at 16:45, a Robin DR 315 operated by a flying club was completing a 15-minute local flight at the Saint-Rambert-d’Albon aerodrome. During the approach, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by heavy rain showers and significant wind activity. The pilot elected to land on runway 19R.
The aircraft touched down approximately 300 meters past the runway threshold. While attempting to decelerate, the aircraft began to slide on the wet grass surface. The aircraft subsequently exited the end of the unpaved runway and entered a plowed field. The momentum caused the aircraft to nose over, resulting in it coming to rest on its back. The impact caused a bent propeller, damage to the nose gear, and a broken canopy.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the pilot's decision-making process. At the time of the accident, winds were recorded between 10 and 15 knots, shifting from the southwest to the northwest, with gusts reaching 25 to 30 knots. Visibility was reduced to 3 or 4 km due to rain showers, with significant cloud cover including cumulonimbus clouds present in the area.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's credentials. The pilot, aged 53, held a license that had been expired for one year. The pilot's flight experience included 89 total hours, with 42 hours on this specific aircraft type and only 4 hours flown in the three months preceding the accident.