What happened
On April 17, 2011, a Cessna FR 172 J departed from the Herten-Rheinfelden landing field for a flight to Biberach. During the outbound leg, the aircraft entered Zurich Class C airspace at an unauthorized altitude of approximately 5,100 ft AMSL. After landing in Biberach, the pilot was notified of the airspace infringement.
During the return flight to Herten-Rheinfelden, the pilot proactively contacted Zurich Information to apologize for the earlier altitude deviation. As the aircraft approached Herten-Rheinfelden, it descended from 6,000 ft to approximately 2,100 ft for the circuit. During the landing phase, witnesses observed the aircraft touch down at the halfway runway marker, bounce, and then strike the ground a second time with the nose gear behind the runway. The aircraft subsequently flipped over and came to rest on its back.
The investigation
The BFU examined GPS data, radio communications, and the wreckage at the scene. The investigation focused on the aircraft's approach speed, the sequence of ground impacts, and the pilot's control inputs during the bounce. Investigators analyzed the physical damage to the engine cowling, propeller, and nose gear, as well as the flight path recorded by GPS.
Findings
- The aircraft approached the runway at a speed of 79 kt, significantly exceeding the recommended 55–60 kt range for a normal approach.
- The pilot likely applied excessive nose-down elevator input after the initial bounce, forcing a second, much harder touchdown at a steep pitch angle.
- The sequence of ground marks indicates the propeller struck the ground first, followed by the nose gear and the lower engine cowling.
- The pilot failed to initiate a go-around despite the unstable approach and the initial bounce.
- The primary cause was the high approach speed and a failed recovery maneuver during the bounce.
- Contributing factors included potential pilot distraction following the earlier airspace infringement and a possible lack of attentiveness during the final approach.