Runway excursion at Méribel altiport involving a Maule M5-210C (N346X)

Overview and Aircraft Details On September 8, 2012, a private Maule M5-210C, registration N346X, was involved in an accident at Méribel altiport in France. The aircraft sustained heavy damage following a runway excursion and collision with a fence. ## Sequence of Events The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, departed from Besançon Thise aerodrome with the intention of landing at Courchevel altiport. Due to a navigation error, the pilot initiated the arrival procedure at Méribel altiport, which is located several kilometers away. The pilot estimated the wind from the northwest at about 20 knots and landed on Runway 15. During the landing rollout at low speed, the pilot reported difficulty controlling the aircraft as it abruptly veered to the left, exited the runway, and collided with the altiport fence. ## Investigation Findings An examination of the braking system revealed no malfunction that could have contributed to the event. The pilot held site qualifications for both Courchevel and Méribel altiports and had a total of 907 flight hours, including 196 hours on type. ## Probable Cause The accident was probably due to inappropriate pilot actions on the flight controls during landing. The pilot's decision to land with a strong tailwind contributed to the accident. The investigation could not determine to what extent confusion between the altiports contributed to the event.