Aircraft and Flight Details
The accident involved a Cessna 172P Skyhawk, registration G-CDMM, built in 1982 with serial number 172-75124. It was powered by a single Lycoming O-320-D2J piston engine. The aircraft was being operated on a private flight from Oban Airport to Glenforsa Airfield on the Isle of Mull. The flight took place on 23 September 2012 at 1030 UTC.
The pilot, aged 49, held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had accumulated 274 flying hours, of which 74 were on type. His flying experience in the previous 90 days was 12 hours, with 11 hours in the last 28 days. There were two persons on board: the pilot and one passenger.
Sequence of Events
Before landing, the pilot obtained the wind at Glenforsa, which was reported as 120° at 12 knots, with some “rotor winds.” He made an overhead pass at 300 feet along grass Runway 07 to assess conditions, which he considered “fine.” After rejoining the circuit, he observed another aircraft land successfully. Confirming that the wind direction and speed were unchanged, he positioned the aircraft to land on Runway 07.
The approach was uneventful. However, as the aircraft was about to land, it encountered a gust that caused a heavy touchdown followed by a bounce. The pilot applied engine power to arrest the subsequent descent, but a further strong gust caused the aircraft to briefly climb before it stalled and landed heavily on the nosewheel. The nosewheel detached, and the nose leg dug into the soft ground, tipping the aircraft forward until it came to rest inverted.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the passenger was unhurt. The aircraft suffered substantial damage.
Investigation
The investigation was based on an Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot. The source does not provide a probable cause.