Cessna F-172-N Runway Overrun at La Axarquía Aerodrome (EC-GPJ)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On Wednesday, 5 November 2008, at 09:35 local time, a privately operated Cessna F-172-N with registration EC-GPJ was involved in an accident at La Axarquía Aerodrome in Málaga. The aircraft was powered by a single Lycoming O-320-H2AD engine. The pilot in command was a 25-year-old commercial pilot holding a CPL(A) license, with 170 total flight hours and 140 hours on type. The flight was a private general aviation operation carrying the pilot and two passengers. ## Sequence of Events The aircraft departed Málaga Airport for a local private flight and proceeded to La Axarquía Aerodrome to land so the passengers could change seats. At approximately 09:35, the aircraft landed on runway 13 after completing a right-hand circuit. The runway has a displaced threshold. During the landing roll, the aircraft overran the end of the runway, struck the perimeter fence, and fell down an embankment. It came to rest inverted near the bank of the Benamargosa River, which runs east of the aerodrome near runway 31. ## Injuries and Damage All three occupants sustained minor injuries and evacuated the aircraft under their own power. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The perimeter fence of the aerodrome was also damaged. ## Post-Accident Findings During the post-accident inspection, the flaps were found retracted. Part of the aerodrome fence was wrapped around the propeller, but the propeller showed no significant damage and its blades had no major impacts. A detailed review of the braking system revealed two separate breaks in the left main gear brake line: one at the fuselage connection and another near the brake caliper, resulting in hydraulic fluid leakage. The lower caliper support was also fractured. The right main gear braking system remained operational and undamaged. Brake pad and disc measurements on both gear legs were within normal operating limits. Skid marks from braking were found on the runway, extending symmetrically for 288 meters before the end of the paved section. Wind conditions at the time were from 315° to 338° at 5 to 7 knots, with gusts up to 12.4 knots. ## Analysis and Conclusions Meteorological information indicated that the wind was from the northwest at the time of the accident, meaning the landing on runway 13 was made with a tailwind. The skid marks showed that the pilot applied the brakes and that braking was balanced between both wheels. No evidence of failure in the braking system components was found during the review; the breaks in the left gear brake line and caliper were determined to have occurred during the impact. The condition of the propeller, with minimal damage, indicated that the impact occurred with the engine running at low revolutions. The position of the flaps suggested that the landing may have been made without deploying them, which may have contributed to a longer landing roll. The investigation concluded that the runway overrun was caused by the execution of the landing maneuver with a tailwind.