Accident to the Jodel DR250 registered HB-KFS on 08/04/2023 at Saulieu-Liernais
Runway veer-off during take-off, strike with pedestrian
As HB-KFS was taking off, the pilot of HB-COE carried out a low pass close to and on the windward side of the runway.
During the take-off run, HB-KFS started to deviate to the LH side of the runway centreline without the pilot being able to counter this excursion despite his inputs on the pedal. The aeroplane’s
LH wing struck a pedestrian who was standing in the manoeuvring area, in the immediate vicinity of the edge of the runway and filming the low pass being carried out by HB-COE and the take-off by HB-KFS.
It was not possible to determine if the pilot of HB-KFS knew of the presence of the pedestrian next to the runway at the time of take-off or if he had been able to detect this presence during the take-off run.
No technical malfunction which could have caused the aeroplane to deviate to the LH side during its take-off run was found.
It is probable that the deviation of the aeroplane’s path during the take-off run was due to the combination of the aeroplane’s own effects during the take-off phase, the windvane effect due to the crosswind and the effects induced by the blast of the aeroplane which was carrying out a low pass next to and on the windward side of the runway. The pilot’s actions were not able to control the deviation of the path.