What happened
On 24 January 2006, a Cessna 172M Skyhawk, registration G-BHCC, was conducting a solo training flight at Gloucestershire Airport. Shortly after departing, at an altitude of approximately 200 ft, a red warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The pilot, believing the light indicated the engine starter had engaged, assumed an engine emergency was underway and initiated a left-hand turn downwind at 500 ft.
After notifying Air Traffic Control (ATC) and requesting priority landing, the pilot attempted to reposition the aircraft for various runways. Due to the aircraft's proximity to the runway thresholds during these maneuvers, the pilot was unable to complete the standard circuit turns. Following ATC guidance, the pilot eventually attempted to land on Runway 27. During the final approach, the pilot realized the aircraft was too high and too fast. Fearing that a go-around might exacerbate a perceived engine problem, the pilot continued the approach. The aircraft touched down with extreme force halfway down the runway, bouncing several times before coming to a stop near the threshold of Runway 09.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot had misidentified the warning light. Rather than a starter warning, the light was actually a low voltage indicator. This error occurred because the pilot failed to read the small instructional placard located beneath the light, and the low voltage light is identical in size, shape, and position to the starter warning light in other aircraft types, such as the Piper Warrior, which the pilot had used for much of his training.
Post-flight inspections of G-BHCC revealed significant structural damage, including a damaged nose wheel, a bent nose landing gear fork, a creased firewall, and buckled floor panelling. Maintenance records later confirmed that the low voltage light had illuminated due to an issue with the alternator drive.