Casualties unknown

Cessna 172M Runway Overrun at Karksi Airfield (ES-FCC)

Karksi, EE

On August 1, 2015, an iga ES-FCC Karksis (registration ES-FCC) was involved in an aviation accident near Karksi, EE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by pilot error. The pilot incorrectly assessed the runway length, landing point, friction coefficient, and aircraft speed during the braking distance calculation. This summary draws on records from the Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (OJK).

Sourcesthe Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (OJK)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-09Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered ES-FCC
Aircraft registered ES-FCC. Photo: Anna Zvereva / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On August 1, 2015, a Cessna 172M (ES-FCC) operated by Tackmer Air OÜ overran runway 34 at Karksi Airfield (EEKI) in Estonia. The aircraft struck a fence and a tree, sustaining heavy damage, while the pilot and two passengers escaped uninjured.

Incident Overview and Location details are as follows: On August 1, 2015, at 10:23 local time, a single-engine Cessna 172M, registration ES-FCC, operated by Tackmer Air OÜ, attempted to land at Karksi Airfield (EEKI) in Estonia. The aircraft was on approach to runway 34. The pilot and two passengers were on board. The weather at the time was rainy, and the runway surface was wet. The pilot had previously conducted two aborted approaches to the same runway before deciding to land on the third attempt. The aircraft's wheels touched down 275 meters from the runway threshold. During the roll-out, the aircraft exceeded the end of the runway, broke through a wire fence, and struck a tree with the left side of its wing. The right side of the wing also hit a fence post. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate 180 degrees around its longitudinal axis. No fire broke out, and all three occupants exited the aircraft under their own power without sustaining injuries. The Safety Investigation Center (OJK) classified the event as an accident due to the extensive damage to the aircraft and conducted the investigation in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 and EU Regulation 996/2010.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by pilot error. The pilot incorrectly assessed the runway length, landing point, friction coefficient, and aircraft speed during the braking distance calculation. Additionally, the pilot did not use the aircraft's flaps to their maximum extent to reduce horizontal speed during landing. The combination of these factors resulted in the aircraft overrunning the runway, colliding with a tree, and sustaining damage. The Safety Investigation Center also identified the pilot's limited flight experience and insufficient preparation for landing calculations on short runways as significant contributing factors.