What happened
On May 2, 2006, a Giles G-202, registration F-PLUG, was conducting a VFR flight from Most to Toužim airport. During the approach to runway 26, the pilot received a radio broadcast on the 122.60 MHz frequency from a competition participant. This broadcast warned that the threshold of runway 26 had been moved due to reduced load-bearing capacity caused by recent rainfall.
Despite stating that he did not fully understand the information, the pilot proceeded with a direct approach to the displaced threshold. Upon touchdown, the aircraft's tailwheel made contact with the ground at the threshold level. As the aircraft continued along the runway, the landing gear tracks began to sink progressively deeper into the saturated, muddy surface. After traveling approximately 130 meters, the loss of lift and the increasing resistance from the soft ground caused the aircraft to flip onto its back. The pilot sustained light injuries.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the AFIS service at Toužim was not active at the time of the accident. The investigation examined the runway conditions, noting that the surface of runway 26 had been soaked by previous rains, rendering it operationally unusable. Furthermore, the investigation found that the physical marking used to indicate the unsuitability of the runway threshold did not comply with the requirements of regulation L 14.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to follow established VFR arrival and landing procedures in the absence of active AFIS service.
- A contributing factor was the incorrect marking of the unusable portion of runway 26, which failed to meet regulatory standards.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage, including destruction of the propeller blades and cockpit canopy, as well as damage to the main landing gear fairings, the tailwheel, and the propeller spinner.