What happened
On 23 June 2001, a Cessna 172R, registration G-BXSM, was conducting a private flight from Sywell airfield to East Midlands International Airport. The pilot, a member of a local flying school at the destination, was performing a visual circuit for landing. During the first landing attempt on runway 09, the pilot noted that the aircraft's speed, power, and approach path appeared correct. However, during the flare, the aircraft failed to maintain the proper landing attitude, causing it to balloon before striking the runway and bouncing.
Following this initial contact, the pilot executed a go-around. A second attempt to land was made, but the aircraft experienced a similar bounce. In response to the difficulty, the pilot requested radio assistance from a flying instructor to guide her through the landing procedure. The instructor directed the pilot to orbit on the downwind leg of a right-hand circuit. Following this guidance, the pilot completed a subsequent approach and landed successfully.
While the pilot was uninjured, the impact caused the cockpit flooring and the firewall bulkhead to crease.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry examined the flight parameters, the meteorological conditions—which were clear with 20 kilometres of visibility and light winds—and the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the flare phase. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's self-assessment regarding the loss of control during the landing flare.