Accident to the Robin DR400 registered F-GABZ on 23/10/2023 at Saint-Quentin Roupy
Runway overrun on take-off in the scope of an introductory flight
After carrying out two introductory flights from runway 14, the pilot undertook a third introductory flight, with two passengers on board, taking off from runway 04. The required take-off distance on an unpaved runway with the flaps in the take-off configuration was approximately 600 m.
Two factors probably degraded the aeroplane’s take-off performance:
- the wet grass runway[1] following a shower shortly before take-off;
- the probably retracted flaps (clean configuration).
The pilot anticipated the rotation, which also increased the required take-off distance. The aeroplane ran off the end of the runway and then left the ground on crossing a raised road situated at the end of the runway. The aeroplane did not have sufficient speed to climb and fell back down around 40 m further on.
[1] In agreement with the FFA, the article about the impossibility of taking off from a muddy runway, “L’impossibilité de décoller sur une piste boueuse” published in Info Pilote No 814 of January 2024, is available in the media library of the page dedicated to this safety investigation.