What happened
On September 8, 2012, a Maul M5-210C, registration N3all346X, departed from Besançon Thise for Courchevel Altiport. During the flight, the pilot committed a navigational error, leading the aircraft to begin arrival procedures at Méribel Altiport, located several kilometers away from the intended destination.
Upon arriving at Méribel, the pilot performed a vertical pass and estimated a northwest wind of approximately 20 knots. The pilot proceeded with the standard circuit and landed on runway 15. While the aircraft touched down at the runway threshold, the pilot reported difficulty maintaining directional control during the low-speed rollout. The aircraft abruptly veered to the left, exited the paved surface, and collided with the altiport's perimeter fence. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, but no injuries were reported.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's mechanical condition and the environmental factors at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the braking system and found no malfunctions that could have contributed to the excursion.
Environmental conditions at the site were characterized by variable winds of 5 knots with gusts up to 15 knots, driven by an upslope breeze. Visibility was good, exceeding 10 km, with few clouds at 5,000 ft. The investigation also noted the significant differences between the two nearby altiports; Courchevel features a longer runway (537 m) at a higher altitude, whereas Méribel's runway 15 is shorter (400 m) and at a lower altitude.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was inappropriate pilot inputs on the flight controls during the landing phase.
- The pilot's decision to land with a strong tailwind acted as a contributing factor to the loss of directional control.
- While a navigational error led the pilot to the wrong altiport, the investigation could not determine the exact extent to which this confusion contributed to the runway excursion.