What happened
On Sunday, October 10, 1999, at approximately 12:00 local time, a Scintex CP 301-C2 (registration F-BJVD) was conducting a flight from Muret to Millau. During the flight, the pilot decided to divert to the Revel aerodrome due to the presence of stratus clouds at 500 feet.
Upon approaching the airfield, the pilot performed a low pass over the aerodrome to observe the windsock and subsequently lined up for a landing on runway 31, positioned in a tailwind configuration. During the landing flare, the aircraft made contact with the runway using the left main landing gear and the left wingtip. This contact caused the aircraft to veer to the right, resulting in a lateral excursion from the paved runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing roll and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators identified continuous tracks on the runway surface made by the left wingtip, the left pitot tube, and the left main landing gear, which described a continuous semi-circle toward the right side of the runway.
Meteorological conditions at the site were recorded as having visibility greater than 10 km, few clouds at 2000 feet, and winds from 320° to 340° at 5 to 10 knots. The investigation examined the pilot's decision-making regarding the diversion and the execution of the landing under the prevailing wind conditions.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the insufficient compensation for the effects of the crosswind during the landing phase.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the left main landing gear, the tailwheel, and the left wingtip.