What happened
On 4 August 2018, a Cessna F172P Skyhawk, registration EI-ING, was conducting a private flight from Weston Airport to Craughwell Airfield in County Galway. The flight was part of a charity auction prize. Upon approaching Runway 34, the aircraft was traveling at a high speed and high altitude. The aircraft touched down long on the runway, bounced, and continued to roll toward the end of the strip.
Realizing the aircraft would not stop before hitting a stone wall located at the airfield boundary, the pilot applied full power to initiate a rejected landing. While the aircraft managed to narrowly clear the 1.7-meter-high wall, it failed to maintain sufficient altitude. The aircraft sank and drifted to the left, eventually striking a tree in a nearby field before impacting the ground. The three occupants—the pilot and two passengers—evacuated the aircraft, which sustained significant damage and was destroyed. One passenger sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The AAIU examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the airfield's physical layout. Investigators reviewed the pilot's recent experience, noting that while the pilot was highly experienced overall, recent time on this specific aircraft type was very limited. The investigation also looked into the aircraft's configuration during the critical moments of the go-around, specifically the setting of the flaps and the carburetor heat.
Findings
- The approach to the runway was too fast and too high.
- The aircraft landed long and experienced a bounce, leaving insufficient distance to stop before the boundary wall.
- The aircraft stalled due to a loss of lift during the attempted go-around.
- The engine power was insufficient to overcome the increased drag caused by a high angle of attack and the reduction of ground effect.
- The carburetor heat had been left in the ON position during the maneuver, further degrading performance.
- The aircraft's climb performance was compromised by the combination of high induced drag and the pilot's attempt to maintain altitude while retracting flaps.