Incident Overview
On March 16, 2003, at 12:38 UTC, a Cessna 182 with registration I-BLAC experienced an accident while landing at the Marina di Campo airport (LIRJ) in Italy. The aircraft was operated by Associazione aeronautica emiliana for a tourism flight originating from Torino Aeritalia. Two individuals were on board: the pilot and one passenger. No injuries were reported, but visible damage occurred to the nose wheel, propeller, and fuselage.
Operational Context
The flight departed Torino Aeritalia at 10:50 UTC. At 12:28 UTC, the pilot contacted the AFIS operator at Marina di Campo, who provided information regarding runway 34 and wind conditions from 030 degrees at 25 knots. By 12:35 UTC, the wind had shifted to 30 degrees with an intensity of 25-30 knots. The pilot reported touching down at 12:38 UTC but immediately bounced, subsequently striking the ground on the nose gear.
Aircraft and Pilot Details
The aircraft was a 1976-built Cessna 182, a four-seat single-engine piston plane powered by a Teledyne Continental O-470-S engine. The pilot was a 63-year-old Italian male holding a valid private pilot license obtained in July 2000. He had approximately 206 total flight hours, with over 96 hours on the Cessna 182 type.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the wreckage revealed backward bending of the propeller blades, indicating a low-speed impact with reduced power. The pilot stated he landed with full flaps and an indicated airspeed 10 knots above the expected value. The flight manual recommends minimum flap settings for crosswind landings; however, the aircraft was configured with full flaps. The combination of high landing speed, full flap configuration, and a crosswind component of approximately 12-15 knots likely caused the initial poor contact and subsequent bounce.
Probable Cause
The probable cause was identified as an incorrect landing setup for crosswind conditions, characterized by high aircraft speed and a full flap configuration.