What happened
On the afternoon of August 14, 1981, a Piper PA-28-181 Archer (HB-PFF) departed Zurich carrying the pilot, his wife, and a child. The destination was the La Côte airfield, a location unfamiliar to the pilot. Although he had telephoned his arrival plans the previous day, no one answered when he attempted to contact the aerodrome radio frequency upon reaching the circuit entry point.
The pilot proceeded with the approach, announcing his positions over the radio. He observed that Runway 04 was in use but noted a high density of buildings along the runway extension, which disturbed him. During the downwind leg, he flew too close to the aerodrome, resulting in an approach that was too high over the threshold. He executed a go-around.
On the second attempt, the pilot presented himself too high again on final approach and initiated another go-around. For the third circuit, he flew at a lower altitude but still arrived at the threshold too high. Believing his approach was finally correct, he attempted to land. However, the aircraft seemed to float above the runway surface without touching down for approximately two-thirds of the available length. It eventually touched down, bounced twice, veered slightly left, and overran the end of the grass runway, colliding with bushes.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) examined the aircraft, which was found to be airworthy with weight and balance within limits. No mechanical defects were identified that could have contributed to the accident. The flaps were set to the second detent (soft field takeoff position). The weather was clear with good visibility.
The investigation focused on the pilot's actions and mental state. The pilot held a valid private pilot license but had limited experience, with his last grass runway landing occurring in April 1981. He typically operated on long, hard-surface runways. The SUST noted that the pilot was aware of his lack of experience with short fields but failed to seek specific advice from an instructor or experienced pilot regarding the unique topographical challenges of La Côte.
Findings
The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's inappropriate approach technique leading to a runway overrun. Contributing factors included:
- Lack of experience: The pilot had insufficient experience operating on short airfields with surrounding obstacles.
- Psychological stress: The pilot experienced significant pressure, exacerbated by the lack of radio communication confirmation and concerns expressed by his young passenger. This stress likely compelled him to force a landing despite being too high on final approach.
- Topographical distraction: The presence of buildings and descending terrain near the runway threshold caused the pilot to tighten his circuit prematurely, resulting in excessive altitude.
- Potential configuration error: Witnesses and the pilot's sensation during flare suggested the flaps may not have been fully extended, potentially increasing ground effect and float.
Safety action
The SUST highlighted that pilots should always verify specific aerodrome conditions, particularly for unfamiliar short fields with obstacles. The report emphasized that radio service at such airfields is often informational only and does not guarantee assistance or traffic advisories. Pilots lacking experience on short runways are advised to consult instructors or experienced local pilots before attempting operations in complex environments.