Accident Details
On 18 August 2013, at approximately 18:10 local time, a Robin DR400-120, registered F-GGQM, operated by a local club, was conducting general aviation circuits at Mortagne-au-Perche aerodrome (Orne, France). The pilot, accompanied by one passenger, had completed three touch-and-go landings and decided to perform a full-stop landing on runway 25, which has a paved surface measuring 720 m by 18 m with a landing distance available of 618 m.
Flight Sequence
The pilot reported that during the final approach, the airspeed was 130 km/h with flaps in the landing configuration. He began the flare at 110 km/h. After touchdown, the aircraft abruptly veered left. The aircraft exited the runway laterally approximately 200 m from the displaced threshold. As speed decreased, the pilot gradually regained directional control using the rudder pedals but could not avoid a fence located 58 m from the runway centerline.
Environmental Conditions
According to the pilot, the wind was from the southwest at 10 to 15 kt, as estimated from a windsock. The wind was stable with no turbulence. The pilot noted that he had no difficulty managing the crosswind component during previous landings. Routine meteorological observations from nearby aerodromes at 18:00 reported wind around 10 kt from 200° to 250°.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft flight manual specifies a final approach speed of 110 km/h in landing configuration. The demonstrated crosswind limit is 22 kt. The pilot, aged 47, held a private pilot license issued in 1994 and had accumulated approximately 170 flight hours, including 6 hours in the preceding three months. He had not flown a DR400 for several years, except for a one-hour instructional flight on 2 May 2013 and a local flight on 11 August 2013.
Investigation Findings
The investigation did not determine the causes of the runway excursion. The damage resulted from the collision with a fence located beyond the 60 m-wide prepared strip adjacent to the runway. The pilot stated he had not started braking when the aircraft veered left and that he had the control stick positioned into the wind and near neutral in pitch during the swerve.