Flight Details
A Cessna 182L Skylane, registration G-ENRM, manufactured in 1968 and powered by a single Continental O-470-R piston engine, was involved in an accident on 20 May 2004 at 1800 hours UTC at North Hill Gliding Site, Devon. The flight was private, with one pilot and one passenger on board. Neither occupant was injured.
Pre-Accident Sequence
The pilot had flown uneventfully from Plymouth to Dunkeswell, intending to continue to North Hill. After landing at Dunkeswell, he telephoned a co-owner of the aircraft, who was also a gliding instructor at North Hill, to discuss arrival procedures. The windsock at Dunkeswell indicated little or no wind when the pilot departed for North Hill. Upon approaching the field, he changed frequency to contact North Hill radio. He observed glider traffic and orbited clear of the field until informed by radio that there was no other traffic in the circuit. Noting two gliders on the field, he made a straight-in approach to land, intending to land beyond them on what appeared to be a suitable area.
Approach and Impact
On the ground, there was a light crosswind from the right. The duty gliding instructor, who had not been informed of the aircraft's intention to land nor of its imminent approach, had just landed and was clearing his glider from the landing area. The co-owner of the Cessna, seeing the aircraft on approach, attempted to indicate its presence by waving at the duty instructor. This gesture was misinterpreted, and even if understood, it would have been unlikely that the strip could have been cleared in the short time available. The pilot of the Cessna continued the approach, allowing the aircraft to drift left. Those familiar with the site, including pilots of glider tug aircraft, are aware of a downslope and ground depression to the left of the landing run and avoid this part of the otherwise adequate landing area. The Cessna pilot was unaware of these ground features and only realized the area was unsuitable when he reached the depression. He initiated a late go-around but drifted further left, allowing the aircraft to strike a fence post at the edge of the field. The aircraft turned upside down in the impact, but both the pilot and passenger were able to exit uninjured through the left door.
Damage
The nose leg detached, and the tail fin and rudder were damaged.
Cause Attribution
The pilot attributed the accident to a combination of going around too late, the adverse slope, crosswind, and yaw with the application of power, leading to loss of control.