What happened
On August 18, 2012, at approximately 15:55 JST, a privately owned Cessna 172N Ram, registered JA3 3814, was performing a familiarization flight at Otone Airfield in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. During a touch-and-go attempt, the aircraft experienced a bounce upon its initial touchdown. Following the subsequent landing, the aircraft veered obliquely and ran off the runway. As the aircraft became airborne again, it struck a worker who was mowing grass on the south side of the runway. The impact resulted in one fatality for the ground worker. The pilot and three passengers on board escaped without injury, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined the flight history, aircraft maintenance records, and the physical site of the accident. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's weight and balance, noting that the center of gravity and total weight were outside of permissible operating limits. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience and the management protocols at Otone Airfield, specifically regarding the presence of ground personnel near the active runway during flight operations.
Findings
Several contributing factors led to the fatal excursion. The investigation determined that the pilot applied full throttle for takeoff while simultaneously using left rudder to correct the landing roll. This maneuver caused the aircraft to swerve abruptly to the left, a characteristic tendency of single-engine propeller aircraft with clockwise rotation, and the pilot was unable to execute effective corrective actions. This difficulty was compounded by the pilot being potentially unsettled by the initial bounce and the psychological pressure of the unexpected situation. Furthermore, the aircraft was operating with a weight and center of gravity that exceeded approved limitations, which adversely affected its maneuverability. Additionally, the pilot had conducted operations at the airfield without the necessary regulatory permissions.