What happened
On August 1, 2015, at 10:23 local time, a Cessna 172M, registration ES-FCC, was performing a landing on runway 34 at Karksi airfield (EEKI) in Estonia. The flight, operated by Tackmer Air OÜ, carried a pilot and two passengers. The weather conditions at the time were rainy with a wet grass runway.
After two previously aborted approaches, the pilot attempted a third landing. Upon touchdown, the aircraft's speed was approximately 80 MPH, and the flaps were set to an angle of 30 degrees. The aircraft made contact with the runway 275 meters from the threshold. During the landing roll, the aircraft failed to stop within the runway limits, overran the threshold, and breached the perimeter fence. The engine was stopped by the impact with the wire fence. Subsequently, the left wing of the aircraft struck a tree, while the right side of the aircraft struck a garden post. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate 180 degrees on its axis.
No injuries were sustained by the pilot or the two passengers, who exited the aircraft unaided.
The investigation
The Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (OJK) examined the aircraft, the site, and the pilot's training records. The investigation focused on human factors, as no mechanical failures or adverse weather-related technical issues were identified. The investigation reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, which showed the last 50-hour inspection had been completed 40 flight hours prior to the accident. The investigators also analyzed the pilot's experience, noting a total of 75 flight hours, with recent training at B.R.D. Aeronautics.
Findings
- The pilot failed to accurately assess the required landing distance, considering factors such as runway length, touchdown point, friction coefficient, and aircraft speed.
- The pilot did not utilize maximum braking or appropriate flap settings to effectively reduce horizontal speed for a short grass runway.
- The pilot's lack of experience and insufficient preparation for performing landings on short, unpaved runways were significant contributing factors.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing (including the trailing edge, leading edge, and flap), as well as minor damage to the propeller and spinner.