Accident Overview
On 22 July 2016, at 19:15 local time (16:15 UTC), a Cessna 172N registered YR-ARJ was involved in an accident during landing near the village of Sarinasuf, Tulcea County, Romania. The aircraft was operated by a private owner on a private flight. On board were the pilot and one passenger. No injuries were reported.
Aircraft and Flight Details
The Cessna 172N is a single-engine, high-wing aircraft with a fixed tricycle landing gear. The aircraft, serial number 17269099, had accumulated 5,350 flight hours at the time of the accident. It held a valid airworthiness certificate and had been maintained in accordance with an approved schedule. The departure point was Strejnic-Ploiești aerodrome, with the intended destination being a rural field near Sarinasuf that had previously been used for aerial work operations.
Meteorological Conditions
According to the meteorological report from the Romanian National Meteorological Administration, at the time of the accident, the temperature was 26°C, wind was from the south at 5 m/s, sky was clear, and visibility was over 50 km.
Accident Sequence
The flight proceeded normally. Upon arrival near the destination, the pilot performed a reconnaissance circuit. However, due to an error in identifying the intended landing field, the pilot landed on an area with tall vegetation and uneven terrain. This caused the aircraft to stop abruptly and nose over into the reeds of the Razim Lake lagoon. The aircraft came to rest in the lagoon.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Specifically, one propeller blade was bent, the wings were deformed, the vertical stabilizer was deformed at the top, and the engine cowl was deformed at the bottom.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot license (FCL/PPL SEP(land)) obtained on 1 July 2016. Total flight time was 53 hours, of which 7 hours and 53 minutes were accrued after obtaining the license. The investigation found no records indicating that the pilot had previously landed at the Sarinasuf field; the destination was chosen based on verbal information.
Conclusions and Cause
The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the pilot's error in identifying the landing field and its condition. The selected landing area had vegetation and uneven ground, which decisively contributed to the aircraft stopping and nosing over. The Civil Aviation Investigation and Analysis Center (CIAS) issued no safety recommendations.