Accident to the Piper PA18 registered HB-ORV on 01/06/2023 at Notre-Dame de La Salette

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 instructor’s and pilot’s statements. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

1. History of the flight

The pilot, in the front seat, accompanied by an instructor in the rear seat, took off from the Gap-Tallard aerodrome (Hautes-Alpes) for a cross-country flight to several mountain airstrips and mountain airfields, in order to obtain the mountain rating. The pilot flew overhead Notre-Dame de La Salette mountain airstrip, and after completing the reconnaissance passes, the instructor took the controls to demonstrate a landing followed by a take-off on this mountain airstrip[1]. He landed on runway 19, applied power to reach the top of the knoll and then directed the aeroplane insufficiently to the right to take off from runway 24. The aeroplane ran through the grass between runways 21 and 24 heading for a thicket of shrubs between the two runways. On take-off, the aeroplane passed through this thicket. The collision with the branches damaged the leading edges of the left and right wings and the elevator, as well as the fairings surrounding the main landing gear shock absorbers.

The instructor noted that the engine power was sufficient to maintain level flight and that the aeroplane was reacting normally to stick inputs. He decided to head to Gap-Tallard aerodrome, around 23 Nm away, and after 12 minutes of flight, he made a precautionary landing.

2. Additional information

The 60-year-old instructor held a commercial (aeroplane) pilot licence (CPL(A)) issued by the Swiss authorities in 1989 along with aeroplane flight instructor and “wheel” and “ski” mountain instructor ratings. He had logged approximately 16,400 flight hours including 15,100 hours in instruction.

The pilot in training held an aeroplane private pilot licence  (PPL (A)) issued by the Swiss authorities, valid until September 2024. He had logged 215 flight hours.

The pilot's mountain training had started on 31 May 2023 from Lausanne (Switzerland). On the first day, 15 landings were made at the mountain airfields and mountain airstrips of Megève, Courchevel, Méribel, Alpes d'Huez, Faucon and Chalançon, ending at Gap-Tallard aerodrome for a total flight time of 4 hours 15 minutes. The following day, on take-off from Gap-Tallard, 14 landings had been made on the Bacchus, Romans, L'Escoulin and SuperDevoluy mountain airfields for a total flight time of 3 hours 18 minutes before the accident.

The Piper PA-18 registered HB-ORV is a tandem two-seat aeroplane with a metal structure, high wings and conventional landing gear. It is powered by a Lycoming O-320-B2B engine developing 160 hp and a Sensenich 74DM6-0-56 propeller.

The instructor explained that after take-off, given the collision with the trees, he had the choice of landing in a field in the valley or flying to Gap-Tallard aerodrome, which was the nearest aerodrome in the region. After observing that the aeroplane was responding normally to the controls and that it had enough power to maintain level flight, he decided to fly to Gap-Tallard aerodrome, avoiding flight over built-up areas and maintaining a high speed during the landing.

Figure 1: damage to aeroplane (source: instructor ) 

September 2023