Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a Cessna 182P Skylane, registration G-BBGX, manufactured in 1973. It was powered by a single Continental Motors Corp O-470-R piston engine. The flight was a private trip with one pilot and one passenger on board. Neither occupant sustained injuries, but the aircraft and crops sustained extensive damage.
The pilot, aged 57, held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had 359 hours of total flying experience, of which 237 hours were on the Cessna 182 type. In the 90 days preceding the accident, he had flown 8 hours, with 5 hours in the last 28 days.
History of the Flight
Before his second flight of the day, the pilot contacted Shobdon Aerodrome to check the weather. He was informed that the surface wind was approximately 10 kt from a north to north-westerly direction. During the flight, the pilot noted that the wind was strong and from the north when near the coast but expected lighter winds inland.
Upon arrival at Shobdon, the pilot performed an overhead join for Runway 27. During the final approach with flap 30 selected, the crosswind appeared consistent with the wind reported by ‘Shobdon Information’ as northerly at 8 kt. Near the aerodrome boundary, the aircraft encountered some windshear, after which the pilot was able to re-establish a stable approach.
The Accident
The subsequent touchdown was good and in the center of the runway. However, the pilot then experienced a strong gust of wind on the aircraft, which caused it to become airborne again for a brief period. After a subsequent bounce, the pilot applied full power to go-around but felt that the aircraft was not accelerating. He began retracting the flaps to reduce drag, but this did not appear to improve acceleration. The aircraft then departed the left side of the runway into a field of crops, turned through 180°, and came to rest. After switching off the main battery, the pilot and passenger exited through the pilot’s door.
Eye Witness Account
A witness confirmed that the initial touchdown appeared good but that the aircraft then bounced twice with the nose high and the tail very close to the ground. The witness heard engine power being applied but then saw the right wing rising before the aircraft went off the runway to the left. The witness estimated the surface wind at the time as north to north-westerly at 12 to 15 kt, gusting to 20 kt.