Accident Overview
On 2 February 2002 at approximately 1630 UTC, a Cessna 172M, registration G-SEXI (year of manufacture 1975), operated by a private pilot, was involved in an accident at Nayland Airfield near Colchester. The aircraft was powered by a single Lycoming O-320-E2D piston engine. The pilot, aged 43, held a Private Pilot Licence and had 340 hours total flying experience, of which 125 hours were on type. There were two passengers on board.
Flight and Engine Problem
The pilot planned a local flight from Southend Airport. Before departure, the fuel water drain check was satisfactory, and engine performance during takeoff and climb was normal. Shortly after becoming established in the cruise, the engine began to cough and vibrate. The pilot selected maximum carburettor heating, checked the magneto selections, and flew towards Nayland, identified as the nearest suitable airfield. After approximately one minute, the engine was still coughing and misfiring, prompting the pilot to perform a precautionary landing on Runway 32 at Nayland.
Landing and Overrun
Runway 32 at Nayland is a grass strip 600 metres long and 20 metres wide with a pronounced upslope. There was no significant weather; the surface wind was estimated as 240°/20-25 kt. For the landing, the pilot selected two stages of flap and commenced the flare at approximately 70 kt. During touchdown, the aircraft bounced, overran the landing strip, and struck a hedge at the far end of the runway, coming to rest inverted in a field beyond the hedge.
Aftermath
Before vacating the aircraft via the left door, the pilot turned off the fuel, avionics, and master switch. The passengers vacated via the right door, which was initially difficult to open. The front seat passenger had been briefed to unlock his door prior to touchdown but had not done so. All occupants were wearing lap and diagonal seat belts and vacated the aircraft without injury. The aircraft sustained damage beyond economic repair.
Assessment
The pilot assessed the cause of the accident as "probably due to carburettor icing." The Chief Flying Instructor commented that the airspeed during the flare was too high with two stages of flap selected.