What happened
On September 9, 2017, a Cirrus SR 22 was performing a private flight from Ostrava, Czech Republic, to the Straubing-Wallmühle airfield in Germany. During the landing approach to runway 27, witnesses observed the aircraft behaving normally until the moment of touchdown.
Upon landing, the nosewheel made contact with the runway first, causing the aircraft to begin bouncing. The pilot initiated a go-around maneuver; however, during this process, the aircraft began to yaw to the left. The left wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. The aircraft continued to taxi across the grass verge with the engine producing power until it encountered rising terrain at the southern edge of the airfield. The aircraft breached a wildlife fence and plunged into a nearby pond. The pilot was able to swim to the shore uninjured, but the aircraft sustained heavy damage as it sank into the water.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage following recovery from the pond. The investigation focused on the condition of the aircraft, the pilot's credentials, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators noted that the aircraft's fuselage showed scratches and delamination, the propeller blades were damaged, and the left wing was deformed and splintered. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience and the maintenance status of the aircraft, which had flown approximately 16 hours since its last airworthiness inspection.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an unstable landing characterized by a nosewheel-first touchdown and subsequent bouncing.
- An attempted go-around resulted in a loss of directional control, leading to the left wingtip striking the ground.
- The aircraft's excursion from the runway led to the destruction of a wildlife fence and damage to the airfield perimeter due to fuel leakage.
- Meteorological conditions were favorable, with light winds and high visibility.