Jodel D140 Mousquetaire F-PMGV Runway Excursion at La Tovière Altisurface

Incident Overview and Flight Details On July 30, 2013, at 15:05 local time, a Jodel D140 Mousquetaire with registration F-PMGV, operated by Aéroclub de Megève, experienced a lateral runway excursion during takeoff at the La Tovière altisurface in France. The aircraft was carrying an instructor and a student pilot who were conducting a training session for the mountain qualification on wheels. The flight was classified as general aviation. ## Sequence of Events The student pilot had completed four landings on runway 12 before aligning with the upper platform for takeoff. As the aircraft passed the change in slope between the platform and the runway, it deviated to the left. The student pilot attempted to interrupt the takeoff and applied right rudder, but the action had no effect on the aircraft's trajectory. The aircraft subsequently veered laterally off the runway and struck metal posts located at the runway edge. The instructor stated that the suddenness of the lateral deviation prevented him from intervening effectively. ## Aircraft and Personnel The aircraft was a Jodel D140 Mousquetaire. The instructor held a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL(A)) with mountain qualifications for both wheels and skis. He had a total of 1,600 flight hours, including 800 hours on type. In the three months preceding the accident, he had 200 flight hours, including 150 on type, and two hours on type in the 24 hours before the incident. The student pilot held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) with 560 total flight hours, including 40 on type. In the three months prior, he had 50 flight hours, including four on type, and no flight hours in the 24 hours preceding the accident. ## Environmental and Site Conditions The estimated weather conditions at the accident site were a wind from 120° at 4 knots and CAVOK (Ceiling And Visibility OK). The La Tovière altisurface is located at an altitude of 7,350 feet and does not have a windsock. Runway 12 is unpaved, measuring 330 meters in length and 40 meters in width, and is not marked. The runway has a slope of 18% over the first 20 meters, 16% over the next 130 meters, and 9% for the remainder of the runway. ## Obstacles and Damage The aircraft struck metal posts that were 2 meters high and 8 centimeters in diameter, located immediately at the edge of the runway on both sides. These posts were part of a fence installed in August 2011 following a previous landing accident involving horses on the runway. Regulations do not require altisurfaces to have a cleared obstacle-free strip. The examination of the aircraft did not reveal any element that could have contributed to the accident. The aircraft sustained heavy damage. ## Conclusion and Aftermath The runway excursion was attributed to a late and insufficient reaction by the instructor on the flight controls following a lateral deviation of the aircraft at the beginning of the takeoff roll. This late reaction was explained by the instructor's confidence in the student, particularly due to the successful completion of previous takeoffs. The presence of the metal posts at the runway edge contributed to the damage to the aircraft. Following the accident, the altisurface was closed by NOTAM and reopened after the removal of the metal posts.