Summary of the Incident
On 23 November 2019 at 11:30 UTC, a Cessna 172S aircraft, registration EC-JPY, operated by Aeroclub Barcelona Sabadell, was conducting a motorized flight rally at Sabadell Airport (LELL). The aircraft carried two occupants, both licensed private pilots, who remained uninjured. During the precision landing required by the rally, the aircraft dropped from approximately 1.5 meters above the ground, struck the runway with the main landing gear, and bounced. The pilot attempted a go-around by applying full power, but with full flaps deployed, the aircraft did not climb. The aircraft then veered left and came to rest on the grass beside the runway. Damage was limited to the wingtips and the lower rear fuselage.
Aircraft and Personnel Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172S, registered EC-JPY, owned and operated by Aeroclub Barcelona Sabadell. The flight was classified as general aviation for recurrent training via a rally. Both occupants held Private Pilot Licenses (PPL(A)). The pilot reported wind from 280° at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots at the time of the incident.
Meteorological Conditions
According to the pilot's testimony, the wind was from 280° at 15 knots with gusts up to 25 knots. The investigation noted that these conditions were close to strong crosswind limits for the aircraft. The aeroclub did not communicate or disseminate the wind conditions to participants.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the incident resulted from the incorrect performance of the landing maneuver in crosswind conditions, followed by an inappropriate execution of the go-around maneuver. Contributing factors included: the presence of near-strong crosswind conditions without notification by the aeroclub, crew pressure to execute a penalty-free precision landing, and the pilot's lack of knowledge of proper crosswind landing techniques.
Safety Recommendations
As a result of the investigation, two safety recommendations were issued to Aeroclub Barcelona Sabadell.