What happened
On 3 May 1999, a Cessna 172N, registration G-GYAV, was conducting a private flight from Liverpool to Caernarfon Airport. The weather conditions were favorable, with a light surface wind of 050° at 5 knots. The pilot's original plan involved performing a right-hand circuit to land on Runway 26.
During the initial approach, the aircraft was positioned too high, prompting the pilot to execute a go-around from an altitude of 100 feet. On the subsequent attempt, configured with flap 30, the aircraft floated along the runway and experienced a heavy landing. This initial impact led to a second bounce. During this second bounce, the propeller and the tail of the aircraft made contact with the runway surface, resulting in minor damage to the rear fuselage and the firewall.
Following the incident, the pilot applied full power and completed a precautionary low-level circuit. After consulting with Caernarfon Radio, the pilot performed a wide circuit at a normal altitude and landed successfully without further issues. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the two approaches and the aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft during the landing phase. The review focused on the pilot's decision-making regarding the timing of the go-around and the aircraft's response to the landing configuration.