What happened
On July 19, 2016, a Cessna 172 SP, registered G-ISHK, was conducting a private flight from Jersey, United Kingdom, to the Angers-Marcé aerodrome in France. The pilot, accompanied by two passengers, was cleared to join the left-hand circuit for runway 08. During the final approach, the pilot deployed the flaps to the 30-degree landing configuration. At this stage, the aircraft's speed was between 75 and 80 knots, which exceeded the recommended approach speed of 60 to 70 knots specified in the pilot's operating handbook.
As the pilot attempted the flare, the aircraft responded more slowly than expected. This resulted in a nose-down attitude upon touchdown, causing the propeller and the nose gear to strike the runway. The aircraft subsequently bounced three times before the pilot was able to bring the plane to a stop. The impact caused damage to the nose gear.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's experience and the aircraft's handling during the landing phase. It was established that while the pilot held a valid UK PPL and had 308 total flight hours, this was his first flight operating the Cessna 172 SP. No prior familiarization flight with an instructor had been conducted on this specific model. A scheduling error at the flying club, which had intended for the pilot to fly with an instructor that day, led to him operating the aircraft as pilot-in-command without recent type-specific training.
Findings
- The pilot's lack of familiarization with the specific handling characteristics of the Cessna 172 SP prevented him from managing the aircraft effectively during the landing.
- The approach was unstable, characterized by an approach speed significantly higher than the recommended range.
- The pilot failed to execute an appropriate flare, leading to the nose-first touchdown and subsequent bounces.