What happened
On June 6, 2018, a Cessna 180, registration N36362, was performing a flight from Podgorica, Montenegro, to Brač Airport, Croatia. The aircraft was operated by Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc. and was carrying two occupants, both of whom were qualified pilots.
The flight proceeded normally until the landing phase. Upon touchdown on runway 04, the aircraft experienced a sudden and powerful gust of wind from the right, estimated by the pilot to be in excess of 25 knots. Despite the pilot's immediate corrective actions, including applying full left rudder and left braking, the aircraft veered to the right and exited the runway. The aircraft came to a stop on a flat surface a few meters from the edge of the runway. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, including damage to the left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and the left landing gear, as well as deformation of the propeller blades.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the Croatian Aviation Safety Agency (AIN) examined the meteorological conditions, the aircraft's technical state, and the operational environment at Brač Airport. Investigators noted that while the flight from Podgorica was uneventful, the local conditions at Brač were more complex due to the airport's location on a plateau 541 meters above sea level, which can induce turbulence.
At the time of the accident, air traffic control services were not active at Brač Airport. The pilot had obtained meteorological information from Split Tower and had performed a low pass over the airport to visually assess the wind. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's extensive experience, noting over 27,000 total flight hours.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the aircraft veering to the right, likely triggered by a strong lateral wind gust at the moment of touchdown.
- Meteorological conditions at the airport were subject to turbulence caused by the surrounding terrain.
- There was a lack of real-time, localized wind information because air traffic control was not present at the aerodrome at the time of landing.
- The aircraft was in a satisfactory technical condition, and no mechanical failures were identified.
- The pilot was highly experienced and had followed appropriate procedures, including a visual reconnaissance of the field prior to landing.