Incident Overview
On 13 August 2019, at approximately 17:30 local time, a Cessna C-172 (registration SP-HPP) operated by HELEN AIR Przemysław Piekarski was involved in an accident during landing at the Świebodzice-Ciernie aerodrome (EPWC). The pilot, a 48-year-old male holding a PPL(A) license with SEP(L) and night ratings, had a total flight time of 259 hours and 43 minutes. He departed from Kamień Śląski aerodrome (EPKN) at 16:08 on a planned flight to Świebodzice to pick up a passenger for a sightseeing flight, then return.
Flight Sequence
The pilot communicated with FIS Poznań and later attempted to contact Świebodzice radio without success. He announced his intention to enter the traffic pattern for a long straight-in approach to runway 23. The investigation noted that good aviation practice would have been to overfly the field to assess conditions before joining the pattern. The pilot configured the aircraft for landing at 70 knots and reported "short final, full stop landing." He intended to touch down at the threshold of runway 23, which is located 20 meters beyond a local road.
Accident Sequence
The approach was characterized as very flat. The pilot observed the runway threshold but failed to adequately monitor altitude. The aircraft touched down approximately 40 meters before the threshold, on stubble field in front of the road. The nosewheel struck the slope of a ditch; the road was about 0.5 meters higher than the surrounding terrain. The impact sheared off the nose landing gear and catapulted the aircraft upward. The aircraft then cleared the road and struck the ground at a steep angle with high energy, resulting in the forward fuselage impacting the earth. The pilot pushed the control column forward after the bounce, leading to a hard impact that broke the fuselage aft of the cockpit. The propeller blades were bent, the engine stopped abruptly, and the lower cowling was damaged. During the rollout, the aircraft tipped onto its left wing, damaging the wingtip.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot was uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was insured and had the required technical documentation. The probable cause was identified as incorrect planning for landing. No contributing factors were found. No safety recommendations were issued.
Conclusion
The accident resulted solely from the pilot's decision to conduct a long straight-in approach without proper assessment of the landing area, leading to a touchdown short of the runway.