What happened
On April 14, 1969, a student pilot was conducting solo flight training at the Ecuvillens airfield in a Piper J3C (registration HB-ODI). The aircraft, which featured a 90 HP engine, had been recently introduced to the student's training rotation to replace another aircraft that was out of service.
During the landing phase, the pilot failed to adequately compensate for a crosswind of approximately 8 to 10 knots. While the pilot initially corrected a leftward drift during the approach after receiving hand signals from an instructor watching from the ground, the pilot failed to notice a second set of signals during the flare. Consequently, the aircraft landed approximately 100 meters short of the intended touchdown point, positioned on the taxiway with an incorrect heading toward airfield buildings.
In an instinctive attempt to avoid the structures, the pilot applied full power for a go-around. However, instead of maintaining a straight climb, the pilot initiated a sharp left turn. This maneuver directed the aircraft toward the lighting installations of an adjacent football field. While attempting to maneuver under the power lines and between the light poles, the left wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to bounce and come to rest on the field.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the pilot's experience, and the environmental factors present at the time of the accident. Investigators reviewed the flight logs of the student pilot, who had approximately 18 hours of total flight time. The technical state of the Piper J3C was also scrutinized, including recent modifications to the wingtips and the engine configuration.
Findings
- The pilot did not sufficiently compensate for the lateral wind component, leading to a landing that was both too far left and too short of the runway.
- The pilot failed to observe the instructor's warning signals during the flare, potentially due to the obscured view caused by the aircraft's engine cowling at a high pitch angle.
- The decision to execute a go-around was considered appropriate, but the subsequent immediate left turn led the aircraft into a hazardous obstacle course.
- The high-wing configuration of the aircraft likely prevented the pilot from seeing the football field light poles in time to avoid the collision.
Safety action
No specific safety recommendations were recorded in the final report.