Accident to the Cessna F172 registered F-BXIY on 07/04/2023 at Villerupt

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation. As accurate as the translation may be, the original text in French is the work of reference

Note: the following information is principally based on the pilot’s statement. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1. History of the flight

The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, took off at 18:30 from Verdun-Sommedieue aerodrome (Meuse) bound for Villerupt aerodrome.

On arriving south of Villerupt aerodrome, he reported his presence on the A/A frequency and understood that he was the sole traffic. He observed the windsock and estimated that there was a light wind from 340°. He directly joined the LH downwind leg for runway 25[1] at an altitude of 2,000 ft, i.e. a height of 700 ft.

While in the downwind leg, he slowed down to 80 kt and extended the flaps to 10°. He then completely extended the flaps at the end of the downwind leg. He simultaneously turned onto the base leg and started the descent.

During the final approach, the speed was stable at 70 kt. Shortly before reaching the runway threshold, he considered that he was too high on the approach slope. He increased the rate of descent. The speed also increased up to 75-80 kt.

He completely reduced power on arriving overhead the runway threshold at a height of around 30 ft and a speed of roughly 75 kt.

When just over half way along the runway and still in the air, he considered carrying out a go-around. He hesitated but thought the remaining distance was still sufficient to stop before the end of the runway. He touched down immediately afterwards and started braking normally. He then braked hard. The aeroplane “slid” on the damp grass and overran the end of the runway.

The pilot slightly turned to the right to avoid trees. The aeroplane passed over a ditch, crossed an unpaved road and then turned over due to the camber. It came to a halt in a field.

2. Additional information

2.1 Villerupt aerodrome information

Villerupt restricted-use aerodrome has a single unpaved runway 07/25.

The aerodrome VAC chart indicates an aeroplane runway circuit at an altitude of 1,800 ft, i.e. a height of 500 ft. Furthermore, it specifies: “Preferred QFU 065° due to RWY slope.”

Runway 25 used by the pilot for landing has a downward slope. The runway threshold is 33 ft higher than the other end of the runway. The final approach path for runway 25 is offset with respect to the runway axis due to the presence of a village (Errouville) a little less than one kilometre from the runway 25 threshold.

2.2 Pilot information and statement

The 50-year-old pilot held a CPL(A). He had logged 360 flight hours including 80 hours on the Cessna F172. In the 3 months prior to the accident, he had logged 103 flight hours, all on the Piper PA28 (except for 25 min on the aeroplane involved in the occurrence, see below).

It was the second flight of the day for him and his passenger. Earlier in the afternoon, he had carried out a flight of around 25 min, with the same aeroplane, between Villerupt and Verdun-Sommedieue aerodromes. At 17:30, the grass was dry when he took off from runway 25 at Villerupt aerodrome.

He specified that the meteorological conditions were CAVOK on leaving Villerupt aerodrome and on returning to it.

He explained that he should have chosen runway 07 for the landing at Villerupt aerodrome as this runway has a “longer” final leg on the runway axis and its upward slope helps slow down the aeroplane. He added that the approach to runway 25 was more difficult as the pilots have to avoid Errouville which is on the axis of the runway.

He considered that he did not give sufficient attention to the choice of landing runway as he thought that the weather conditions were good and that the choice of landing runway would not have a significant impact. He added that the dampness of the grass runway with a clay soil played a
decisive role.

He specified that, regardless of the choice of runway, he should have carried out a go around to make a new approach and land at the beginning of the runway.