Accident to the Socata TB21 registered N229GC on 28/12/2022 at Barcelonnette

The pilot chose to fly to Barcelonnette aerodrome via Col d’Allos mountain pass, which he crossed at an altitude of approximately 9,000 ft, i.e. a height of around 900 ft. The aeroplane arrived near the aerodrome at an altitude of 8150 ft, i.e. approximately 3,500 ft above the runway circuit. To increase his flight time and the loss of altitude, the pilot extended the downwind leg and flew an extended base leg and a long final.

The aeroplane lost around 3,000 ft between its position overhead the aerodrome and the start of the long final. At 1.6 NM from the runway threshold (55 s before landing), the aeroplane was about 1,100 ft above the standard approach slope of 5%. This represented a slope of more than 15% to reach the runway. In addition, the pilot probably maintained engine power during the final. In these conditions, the aeroplane arrived on short final with the gears extended, the flaps in the landing position and an indicated airspeed of around 110 kt, i.e. 35 kt above the speed recommended for landing in the conditions of the day.

The aeroplane touched down approximately 215 m after the displaced threshold, which left a runway distance of 510 m. Due to the excessive energy of the aeroplane, it then bounced three times. The position of the last touchdown was 330 m from the opposite threshold.

To avoid making a runway overrun and hitting a snowdrift some 50 cm high located at the end of the runway, the pilot decided to reject the landing. During the go-around, the landing gear hit the snowdrift, which probably destabilised the aeroplane. The pilot lost control of the aeroplane, which hit the vegetation to the left of the runway centreline before catching fire.