What happened
On 22 July 2009, a private flight involving a Cessna 172M, registration EI-BUA, was conducting circuit training at Weston Airport. The pilot, who had recently checked the weather and determined that a navigation exercise was unsuitable due to wind conditions, opted to perform circuit flying instead. After completing three successful circuits, the pilot noted that the wind had intensified, estimating it at approximately 2/24 kts.
During the approach for the fourth circuit, the aircraft made initial contact with the runway but subsequently bounced back into the air. A second hard impact occurred, during which the nose undercarriage fractured. As the aircraft struck the surface a third time, the propeller, which was still under power, struck the tarmac. The aircraft then veered toward the edge of the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's serviceability and the pilot's flight history. The aircraft was found to be in a serviceable condition prior to the event. A witness, a qualified pilot, observed the landing from the terminal area and noted the aircraft appeared "low and slow" on approach. This witness corroborated the sequence of multiple bounces and the eventual failure of the nose gear.
Review of the pilot's records showed a total of 204 flying hours, with 20 hours specifically on the Cessna 172M. However, the pilot's recent currency was low, having flown only three hours in the preceding 90 days and no hours in the 28 days prior to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the inappropriate recovery from a bounced landing.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of recent flying experience and currency, which may have hindered the ability to manage the aircraft's handling during the wind increase.
- The aircraft's airspeed may have dropped near stalling speeds during the approach, complicating the landing profile.