Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-32RT-300 Lance, registration PH-SYA. The pilot in the left seat was a Dutch citizen, aged 40 at the time, holding a Dutch private pilot license (CVFR) with 345:35 total flight hours, including 7:40 on type. The pilot in the right seat was also a Dutch citizen, aged 40, holding a Dutch professional pilot license with 1579:20 total hours, including 82:05 on type.
Accident Sequence
On the morning of 14 June 1987, the left-seat pilot, accompanied by the right-seat pilot and four passengers, flew from Amsterdam to Lausanne in the PH-SYA. The flight lasted 3 hours 15 minutes and the aircraft landed without incident. In the afternoon, the crew prepared for the return flight. The right-seat pilot filed a flight plan while the left-seat pilot refueled the aircraft, performed a pre-flight check, studied the aerodrome chart and the takeoff performance curves from the flight manual. He inquired about the runway length from a flight information office clerk, who also provided wind data (360°/10 kt constant) and air temperature (17°C).
At 1913 local time, takeoff began from the beginning of runway 01 under the observation of the flight service chief, who repeated the wind data by radio. The aircraft lifted off normally approximately 100 meters before the end of the runway but gained little height. At about 10 meters above ground, the left-seat pilot perceived that the aircraft had stopped climbing. He saw ahead, at about 300 meters, the hedge bordering the highway and, at 800 meters, the power line pylons of the Romanel power station. Fearing he could not clear these obstacles, he decided, in agreement with the right-seat pilot, to abort the flight and land gear down in a field between the airport and the highway. The aircraft touched down with the left wing slightly low, contacted the ground, veered about 15 degrees, and came to a stop approximately 30 meters from the highway hedge. The flaps were extended to 25 degrees. The left fuel tank was ruptured, but no fire occurred. All six occupants exited the aircraft uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Findings
Both pilots held valid licenses and were in good health; alcohol tests half an hour after the accident were negative. The aircraft had a valid airworthiness certificate and was well maintained; examination of the wreckage revealed no technical anomaly related to the accident. Runway 01 at Lausanne-La Blécherette is a grass runway with an irregular profile, offering 805 meters of available takeoff distance. The terrain rises from the beginning of the runway (609 m elevation) to the end (623 m). The surface was somewhat moist but firm; a Piper Seneca with six occupants had taken off successfully two hours earlier under similar conditions.
The emergency gear level was set to "Automatic"; because the aircraft did not reach the speed required for gear retraction, the landing gear remained extended, contrary to the pilot's belief that it had retracted. Weight and balance were within limits, though the center of gravity was at the aft limit; takeoff weight was estimated between 3596 and 3723 pounds. Weather at the time included wind 360°/10 kt, temperature 17°C, visibility 10–15 km, and light turbulence near the ground.
Cause
The accident was caused by the interruption of flight over unfavorable terrain. Contributing factors were an inadequate assessment of the situation and a lack of knowledge of the airport's topographical peculiarities.