What happened
On April 23, 2011, a Cessna 172M was performing the final approach to runway 09 at Anklam aerodrome following a 51-minute sightseeing flight. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and three passengers.
During the approach, the aircraft entered a state of aerodynamic stall. Video footage recorded by a passenger showed that the aircraft climbed out of the approach path while the stall warning horn was sounding continuously. The aircraft then struck the ground with significant force in a high-angle-of-attack attitude. Following the impact, the high-wing aircraft drifted to the right, with both wings contacting the ground. The impact caused the engine and landing gear to break away from the fuselage. The aircraft came to a stop in the grass adjacent to the runway, destroyed. The four occupants sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The BFU investigation established that the aircraft's center of gravity was within limits and the total weight was below the maximum takeoff weight. The pilot held a valid PPL(A) with night flight qualifications and had a total of 129 flight hours, with 14 landings performed in the 90 days preceding the accident.
Technical examination of the Cessna 172M revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or technical defects. The investigation also noted that the pilot had configured the aircraft with 20 degrees of flaps during the final approach. Meteorological conditions at the time were VFR with visibility greater than 10 km and a light breeze of 14 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an aerodynamic stall during the final approach.
- The aircraft struck the runway 140 meters from the threshold, and the subsequent impact and drift caused the aircraft to leave the paved surface and come to rest 87 meters from the runway.