What happened
On 13 October 2016, a Cessna 172P, registration PK-HAN, was conducting a dual flight training exercise at Cakrabhuwana Airport in Cirebon, Indonesia. The flight, operated by Aero Flyer Institute, included one instructor and two student pilots. After completing training maneuvers in the Karang Ampel area, the crew was instructed by the tower to return to the airport due to deteriorating weather conditions.
During the approach to runway 04, the instructor took control of the aircraft due to gusty wind conditions. The aircraft touched down in the middle of the runway in a flapless configuration. Simultaneously, the wind direction shifted rapidly from a 10-knot headwind to a 10-knot wind from 270 degrees, creating an approximately 8-knot tailwind. Following the touchdown, the aircraft failed to stop within the runway limits and exited onto the right shoulder of the stopway, approximately 1,400 meters from the start of the runway. There were no injuries and no damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The KNKT investigation examined site data, interviews, and radio communications. The inquiry focused on the aircraft's landing performance under specific environmental and configuration changes. Investigators noted that while the aircraft landed in the middle of the runway, the calculated required landing distance—accounting for the tailwind and the lack of flaps—should have been approximately 968 meters, which was within the available runway length. However, the aircraft ultimately stopped much further down the runway on the shoulder.
Findings
- The aircraft was in a flapless configuration at touchdown, though the reason for this configuration could not be determined.
- A rapid shift in wind direction occurred, resulting in an 8-knot tailwind component.
- The air traffic controller observed the wind change but was unable to relay the information to the pilot before the aircraft touched down due to the speed of the shift.
- The specific reason why the aircraft exceeded the runway length despite sufficient calculated distance remained undetermined.