What happened
On August 24, 2022, a Cessna 182K, registration LV-JCG, was performing a general aviation ferry flight from Sarmiento, Santa Fe, to Paraná, Entre Ríos. The flight was intended to transport the aircraft to a maintenance facility to address a nose gear strut fluid leak.
During the landing phase on runway 36, the aircraft failed to stop within the available runway length. As the aircraft exited the paved surface, the left horizontal stabilizer struck a perimeter fence post, resulting in minor damage to the stabilizer's leading edge. No injuries were reported to the pilot or any occupants.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the landing performance and the environmental conditions at the Paraná aerodrome. The pilot, who had approximately 272 flight hours, reported that while the flight conditions were visually clear, the touchdown occurred at a speed higher than the values specified in the aircraft's flight manual.
Investigators examined the runway characteristics, noting that runway 36 features a negative slope. The aircraft touched down slightly before the midpoint of the 750-meter unpaved runway. Ground markings indicated that maximum braking was not applied until approximately 80 meters from the end of the runway. In an attempt to increase the available stopping distance, the pilot executed a slight right turn toward the edge of the runway as the aircraft approached the end of the strip.
Findings
Several contributing factors led to the runway overrun:
- The aircraft touched down at a speed exceeding the limits established in the flight manual.
- The landing occurred on an unpaved surface with a negative slope, which inherently increases the required stopping distance.
- The touchdown point was relatively late, occurring near the middle of the runway.
- There was a delay in the application of maximum braking pressure.
- The combination of high speed, the downhill gradient, and the late application of brakes resulted in insufficient stopping distance.