Incident Overview
On 26 November 1998 at 1600 UTC, a Cessna 172R (registration G-BXOI) was landing at Guernsey Airport, Channel Islands, following a private flight. The pilot reduced the flap setting due to strong surface winds from 280 degrees at 21 knots. During the final approach, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence that induced rolls of approximately 40 degrees in both directions. The turbulence then subsided, but just past the runway threshold, the aircraft experienced a violent updraft followed immediately by a sharp downdraft. The initial touchdown was normal, but the aircraft became airborne again. It subsequently touched down heavily, and the pilot had difficulty maintaining the runway centreline. The hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and the nosewheel spat.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a 1997 Cessna 172R powered by a single Lycoming IO-360-L2A piston engine. The pilot, aged 63, held a Private Pilot Licence and had accumulated 466 flying hours, with 24 hours on the Cessna 172 type. In the 90 days preceding the incident, he had flown 2 hours, including 1 hour in the last 28 days. No injuries were reported for the sole crew member or the single passenger.
Reported Cause
According to the pilot's report, the accident was attributed to the severe turbulence encountered during the final approach. The pilot noted that, in hindsight, a go-around should have been executed when the first turbulence was encountered.