What happened
On 23 October 1998, a Cessna 152, registration G-OAFT, was performing a private flight at Halfpenny Green Airport in the West Midlands. While on short final for Runway 22, the aircraft flew through a rain shower that temporarily obscured the pilot's vision. As the runway became visible again, the surface was noted to be very wet, with intense sunlight creating strong reflections across the runway.
The pilot noticed that the visual appearance of the runway did not align with the previously selected glidepath, yet the approach was continued. Shortly before the intended touchdown point, the aircraft's main wheels struck the rising ground located just before the runway threshold. This caused the aircraft to bounce, subsequently pitching nose-down. The aircraft then impacted the runway on its nosewheel, resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear. The aircraft subsequently veered off the runway and came to a stop on the grass. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft suffered substantial damage to the propeller, engine mounts, and nose landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation examined the environmental conditions and the physical characteristics of the airfield. It was noted that Runway 22 features a 3-metre downslope over 640 metres, preceded by a significant rise near the threshold. Investigators also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting the commander held a Private Pilot's Licence with 85 total flying hours, all of which were on this specific type.
Findings
- The landing was complicated by a combination of environmental factors, including a wet windscreen following a rain shower and intense reflections from the wet runway surface.
- The aircraft's main wheels contacted the rising ground before the threshold due to the pilot's inability to maintain the correct glidepath.
- The pilot failed to execute a go-around following the initial bounce, which may have prevented the subsequent nose-down pitch and gear collapse.