What happened
On 19 March 2020, a Cessna 172M, registration N80533, was conducting a general aviation flight from Weston Airport to Abbeyshrule Aerodrome. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. During the landing phase on runway 10, the aircraft touched down approximately 135 meters beyond the displaced threshold.
As the landing roll progressed, the aircraft began to drift toward the right side of the runway. Despite the pilot applying left rudder and left control wheel inputs to correct the path, the aircraft continued its lateral movement. The plane eventually left the paved runway surface roughly 42 meters before the runway end, coming to a stop on the grass verge, 17 meters from the runway centerline. There were no injuries to the crew or passenger, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation reviewed the pilot's report and conducted follow-up interviews. The investigation examined the meteorological conditions at the time of the incident, noting that while the pilot's initial report suggested a crosswind, official data from Met Éireann indicated a northerly wind with a possible tailwind component for runway 10.
The investigation also looked into the landing parameters, noting that the touchdown occurred past the displaced threshold and may have involved a higher-than-normal approach speed. The aircraft was inspected on-site, where mud was found on the tires, but no mechanical failures in the brakes or wheels were identified. The pilot subsequently flew the aircraft back to Weston Airport after confirming the brakes were functional.
Findings
- The aircraft drifted right during the landing roll, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control.
- The touchdown occurred significantly past the displaced threshold.
- A possible tailwind component may have contributed to a faster touchdown speed.
- The aircraft exited the paved surface due to the inability to counteract the rightward drift.