Incident Overview
On 11 November 1998, at approximately 1430 hours UTC, a Cessna F172H, registration G-AVIS, was taxiing at Sandown Airfield on the Isle of Wight. The aircraft, manufactured in 1967 and powered by a single Rolls-Royce O-300-D piston engine, was being operated on a private flight with one pilot and one passenger on board. No injuries were reported, and the damage was limited to the right wingtip.
Taxiway Instructions
The pilot had been instructed to use the Northern taxiway for Runway 23 because the Southern taxiway was boggy due to recent rain. As the aircraft approached the halfway point on the Northern taxiway, it began to swing to the left. The pilot was unable to control the swing and assessed that a collision with an adjacent bank was inevitable. He shut down the engine before the aircraft struck the bank and tipped onto its right wing, resulting in minor damage.
Pilot Actions
After the aircraft came to rest, the pilot transmitted a brief PAN call before evacuating the aircraft.
Pilot Experience
The pilot, aged 46, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 173 hours of flying experience, with 132 hours on type. In the 90 days preceding the incident, he had flown 1 hour, and in the last 28 days, he had also flown 1 hour.
Probable Cause
According to the pilot's assessment, the incident was caused by the left wheel entering a patch of long grass on boggy ground.