What happened
On May 21, 2003, a Piper PA 28-140 Cherokee, registration N44628, was performing a flight from Pointe-à-Pitre to Les Saintes. The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern at 1,200 feet, establishing a downwind leg for an approach to runway 09.
During the landing phase, the pilot experienced significant ground effect. The aircraft touched down past the midpoint of the runway at a speed higher than recommended. Due to the excessive speed, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before the end of the paved surface. The aircraft exited the runway and continued onto the adjacent beach, where the pilot steered the plane to the left to avoid entering the water. The aircraft eventually came to a halt approximately 50 meters from the runway end. The incident resulted in damage to the propeller and the nose landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's approach technique and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot, an experienced flyer with over 3,000 total flight hours, stated that he had been following a technique commonly used by pilots based at the aerodrome. This method involved maintaining a speed of 65 knots on final approach with flaps set to the third notch, intentionally omitting the flare and retracting the flaps upon touchdown to "pin" the aircraft to the runway.
However, the aircraft's flight manual specifies a final approach speed of 73 knots for a normal landing. Investigators also noted that the wind indicator at the threshold of runway 27 indicated a tailwind component. The aerodrome's geography, characterized by two hills flanking the runway, creates a Venturi effect that influences local wind patterns.
Findings
- The pilot failed to execute a go-around despite the high approach speed and the presence of a tailwind.
- The pilot's reliance on a non-standard landing technique, driven by habit, led to an insufficient assessment of the landing conditions.