What happened
On September 5, 2010, a CAP 231 aerobatic aircraft, registration F-GGYZ, was participating in the 17th FAI European Aerobatic Championship at Toužim Aerodrome. Following a demanding competition sequence, the pilot attempted to land on the unpaved runway 08. Due to recent rainfall, a portion of the runway was unusable, and the touchdown zone had been temporarily relocated 650 meters behind the original threshold, marked by a shifted 'T' indicator.
During the landing flare, the pilot misidentified the yellow threshold markings as the new touchdown point. The aircraft landed on the left side of runway 08, approximately 41 meters before the permanent threshold markings. As the aircraft decelerated, the right main landing gear struck the metal structure of the threshold pennants. The impact caused the right wheel to detach, and the aircraft subsequently struck the ground with its propeller and left wing. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained significant damage.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the pilot had been briefed on the temporary runway conditions prior to the competition day. The investigation examined the runway markings, the pilot's flight path, and the visibility conditions from the AFIS tower. It was noted that while the touchdown zone had been relocated, the unusable portion of the runway lacked specific 'unusable' markings. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot's view of the threshold was obscured by the aircraft's fuselage during the final stage of the flare, preventing the recognition of the conflicting situation.
Findings
- The pilot was qualified and the aircraft was in a good technical condition.
- The pilot made an incorrect decision regarding the landing point due to a subjective interpretation of the existing yellow threshold markings.
- The lack of proper 'unusable runway' markings on the closed portion of runway 08 contributed to the error.
- The pilot failed to recognize the imminent collision with the threshold structure because the forward view was obscured during the flare.
- The threshold pennant structure was designed to collapse upon impact, which prevented further damage but still resulted in substantial damage to the CAP 231.