What happened
On Tuesday, November 16, 1998, at 15:30, a Robin DR 400-120 registered as F-GEKN was performing local circuit patterns at the Saint-André-de-l'Eure aerodrome. The flight, operated by a local flying club, included a pilot and one passenger.
During the initial approach to runway 24, the pilot experienced significant glare from the sun, which prompted a go-around. Although the pilot considered changing the approach heading to avoid the sunlight, this decision was ultimately abandoned following a discussion with the passenger. During the subsequent second approach, the sun glare persisted, leading the pilot to transfer control of the aircraft to the passenger.
As the aircraft landed on the unpaved runway, the passenger-pilot lost visual references. This loss of situational awareness resulted in a failure to maintain the aircraft's trajectory, causing the plane to veer to the right. During the excursion, the aircraft struck a lateral runway marker, which caused the left landing gear to be torn away. The aircraft sustained heavy damage during the event.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the sequence of pilot actions during the approach and landing phases. Investigators examined the solar position, which was at an azimuth of 220° and an elevation of 12.5°, and the prevailing weather, which included visibility of over 10 km and winds from 320° to 340° at 8 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was sun glare, which led to a loss of visual references during the landing roll.
- The transfer of control from the pilot to the passenger during the second approach contributed to the inability to maintain the runway centerline.