What happened
On March 28, 2016, a Cessna 172P operating a commercial sightseeing flight departed from the Wyk auf Föhr (EDXY) airfield. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and two passengers. During the return to the airfield, the pilot elected to land on runway 09 due to the prevailing wind direction and strength.
Upon touchdown, the pilot encountered gusty winds and decided to execute a go-around. However, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and began drifting to the left. To avoid ground obstacles in the departure sector, the pilot steered toward an open field. As a safe climb became impossible, the pilot set the engine to idle.
According to the airfield manager, the aircraft touched down near the second runway edge marker behind the half-runway marking. It appeared to have been caught by a wind gust, causing it to lift off again and touch down a second time near the displaced threshold of runway 27. The aircraft then turned left and impacted the ground approximately 260 meters northeast of runway 09.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft, the flight conditions, and the pilot's actions. The aircraft, a 1983 model, was found to be in a valid state of airworthiness, and the weight and balance were within limits. The investigation confirmed that the engine and airframe showed no signs of technical failure prior to the impact.
At the time of the accident, meteorological data indicated significant wind activity. While the local wind was reported at 22 knots from 140°, a nearby METAR from Sylt recorded winds of 25 knots with gusts up to 37 knots. The impact resulted in heavy damage to the aircraft, including a broken fuselage, deformed wings, and a detached nose gear, but no injuries were reported to the three occupants, though two persons were lightly injured.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the inability to maintain altitude during a go-around due to heavy, gusty winds.
- The pilot's decision to execute a go-around in high-wind conditions led to a loss of control and subsequent impact with the ground.