What happened
On 4 November 2017, a Cessna R172K Hawk XP, registration G-XPII, was engaged in a training flight at Nottingham City Airport. The flight involved a qualified pilot receiving instruction on how to operate the aircraft from the right-hand seat.
During the flight, the initial approach to land was aborted via a go-around because the aircraft was flying too high and at an insufficient speed. During the subsequent second circuit, the instructor observed fluctuations in airspeed and provided several prompts to the pilot as the speed dropped toward the required minimum. As the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 20 to 30 feet, the pilot initiated the flare while the engine was at a low power setting. This action caused the aircraft to lose further momentum and sink. Although the instructor attempted to take control of the aircraft, the Cessna R172K Hawk XP struck the ground with significant force and bounced before the landing was finalized.
There were two crew members and one passenger on board. The crew sustained no injuries, while the passenger suffered one minor injury. The impact caused structural damage to the aircraft, including distortion of the engine frame and firewall, as well as damage to the lower forward fuselage and the left outer wing.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the cockpit environment. The pilot undergoing training noted that she had experienced difficulty monitoring the airspeed indicator while seated in the right-hand position. The instructor concluded that the pilot was not aware the aircraft had become too high and too slow at the start of the flare due to her lack of familiarity with flying from the right seat.