Incident Overview
On Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at approximately 14:15 local time, a private Piper J3 C65 with registration F-BHHQ was severely damaged following a failed landing attempt in a field near the Serres-La Bâtie aerodrome in France. The aircraft was operating a local flight with one passenger on board.
Sequence of Events
The pilot departed from runway 36 to utilize thermal updrafts in the Grand Buech valley. At approximately 200 feet, the aircraft entered descending air currents. Unable to regain altitude during a turn, the pilot observed power lines and poplars ahead. Realizing the aircraft could not climb despite maximum power, the pilot decided to return to the aerodrome but found the altitude insufficient for a standard approach. Consequently, the pilot selected a field with tall grass for an emergency landing. During the rollout, the landing gear broke upon striking an irrigation ditch that was not visible from the cockpit.
Contributing Factors
The pilot held a CPL(A) license and had approximately 800 flight hours, including about 100 on the Piper J3 type. Although familiar with the area as a glider tow pilot, this was his first takeoff from Serres in this specific aircraft. The plane was equipped with a 65 hp engine and a "large pitch" propeller. The pilot suspected that at low speeds and high power settings, the engine may have shifted to a second regime, preventing climb performance. Weather conditions included north winds of 5–10 kt, CAVOK visibility, and a temperature of 27°C, which likely promoted thermal activity.
Investigation Conclusion
The BEA determined that the accident resulted from the pilot's optimistic estimation of the aircraft's performance relative to the day's conditions. The decision to execute an initial turn in descending air currents and the presence of the large-pitch propeller were identified as contributing factors.