What happened
On October 4, 2019, a Cessna 172R aircraft, registration VT-HRP, was performing a solo circuit and landing exercise at Shirpur Airfield, Maharashtra. The flight was being conducted by a student pilot as part of a planned training session involving four solo circuits.
After successfully completing three circuits, the pilot commenced the fourth approach. During the final approach leg, the pilot reduced engine power to idle. However, the aircraft' and approach profile became unstable; the aircraft remained too high above the runway and the airspeed dropped to 50 knots, which was below the required 65-knot minimum.
As the aircraft reached the second touchdown point, approximately 30 to 40 feet above the runway, the pilot attempted to initiate a go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a stall condition. The pilot applied full power to recover, but the sudden application of power caused the aircraft to yaw and bank sharply to the left. The left wing struck the ground approximately 50 feet from the runway edge, causing the aircraft to skid and strike a boundary wall before coming to a halt. The student pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB India investigation examined the aircraft's wreckage, the pilot's training records, and the flight circumstances. Investigators confirmed the aircraft was airworthy and the pilot had passed a pre-flight breath analyzer test with negative results.
Technical examination of the wreckage revealed significant structural damage, including a twisted propeller, a broken engine mount, and a sheared nose landing gear. The investigation also noted that the AMSAFE airbag system deployed upon impact, which helped mitigate the severity of the pilot's injuries. The investigation reviewed the flight's approach parameters, noting that the aircraft was significantly high and slow on short finals.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at an unstable approach speed of 50 knots, below the prescribed 65-knot limit.
- The pilot was too high on the approach, maintaining 30 to 40 feet of altitude at the second touchdown point.
- The pilot delayed the decision to execute a go-around, allowing the aircraft to reach a near-stall condition.
- The simultaneous application of full power and the natural tendency of the aircraft to yaw left during power application, without sufficient corrective rudder input, led to a wing-drop stall.
- A mandatory load and trim sheet had not been prepared for the flight as required by regulations.