Swiss STSB Reports on 2019 PA-28 Runway Excursion at Biel-Kappelen (HB-PSG)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 19 June 2019, a Piper PA-28-181 with registration HB-PSG, owned and operated by Fluggruppe Seeland, experienced a serious incident during a landing at Biel-Kappelen (LSZP). The aircraft was a private, visual flight rules (VFR) operation. The pilot, a Swiss national born in 1961, held a Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL(A)) issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (BAZL) under EASA regulations. At the time, he had 99 hours 19 minutes of total flight time, including 13 hours 39 minutes on the accident type. ## Sequence of Events The pilot intended to conduct an Alpine round trip with his daughter, preceded by three solo touch-and-go training circuits. The first two landings and takeoffs were uneventful. During the third approach, the aircraft touched down approximately 100 meters past the runway threshold. Onboard navigation software recorded that after a roll of about 65 meters, the aircraft began to drift to the right. Despite the pilot's use of the left rudder pedal, the aircraft approached the right runway edge. The pilot then applied the wheel brakes. He reported that the aircraft's ground handling felt soft and he was unable to stabilize the roll direction. After another 70 meters, the aircraft crossed the right runway boundary and came to a stop in an adjacent cornfield after traveling about 25 meters, with the engine still running. ## Investigation Findings Post-incident inspections of the airframe, propeller tips, tires, wings, fuselage, landing gear, and engine revealed no damage or technical defects. Tires were correctly inflated, and subsequent engine run-ups showed no vibrations. The pilot's post-incident alcohol test resulted in zero per mille. Onboard navigation data indicated an average approach ground speed of 62 knots for all approaches. The data also showed a rightward deviation during the second touch-and-go at the location of a field road crossing the runway. ## Meteorological Conditions The weather was sunny with visibility exceeding 10 kilometers. At 11:00 local time, the wind was from 290 degrees at 4 knots with gusts to 10 knots. The temperature was 23°C with a dew point of 16°C, and the QNH was 1014 hPa. A shallow low pressure system southeast of England and a convergence line north of the Jura influenced the weather, with a southwest wind strengthening at altitude. ## Analysis and Conclusions The investigation concluded that the serious incident was caused by a loss of control after landing due to operational reasons. The prevailing crosswind conditions, with the wind blowing from approximately 60 degrees to the right relative to the approach direction, presented an increased demand on the pilot. The analysis suggested that the effect of weathervaning may have surprised the pilot as the aircraft emerged from the wind shadow of hangar buildings north of the runway. The decision not to attempt a go-around upon reaching the right runway boundary was considered appropriate, as the remaining runway length of approximately 200 meters would have made a safe takeoff and initial climb significantly more risky. The pilot was not injured, and the aircraft sustained no damage, though minor field damage occurred.