What happened
On September 3, 2008, a Cessna 172S, registration D-EXAH, was performing a VFR pleasure flight from Bari Palese to the Sabaudia aerodrome. After completing a standard circuit and confirming the runway was clear, the pilot initiated an approach to runway 32.
Upon touchdown at approximately 60 knots, roughly 100 meters from the runway threshold, the pilot reported difficulties with the braking action, noting that the aircraft's speed was not decreasing as expected. Fearing that attempting a go-around was unsafe given the remaining runway length, the pilot applied increased pressure to the brakes. Despite these efforts, the aircraft failed to stop within the available distance and exited the runway past the threshold of runway 14. The aircraft eventually came to a halt in a significant depression located just beyond the runway end.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical integrity of the braking system and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Meteorological reports indicated good visibility, no wind, and no precipitation, suggesting weather was not a contributing factor.
While the pilot reported braking issues, a subsequent inspection of the braking system and parking brake was conducted approximately two weeks after the event by an EASA Part-145 certified maintenance organization. This technical evaluation confirmed that the braking system was fully functional, effectively ruling out mechanical failure as a cause of the overrun.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, engine mount, landing gear (both main and nose), and wingtips.
- The runway length of 552 meters was deemed sufficient for the aircraft's performance, as typical landing rolls under similar conditions range between 200 and 350 meters.
- The primary cause of the event was pilot error in managing the landing phase, specifically an inability to stop the aircraft within the remaining runway distance, likely due to the aircraft touching down too far down the runway.