What happened
On 9 June 1998, at approximately 1800 hrs, a Reims Cessna FR182, registration G-NOCK, was performing a private local flight near Royston, Hertfordshire. Following a 30-minute period of local flying, the pilot initiated an approach to the grass runway 24. At the time, the area was experiencing localized storms and variable cloud bases, though visibility remained good. The pilot noted from a windsock that the surface wind was 220/20 kt and gusting.
As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, a sudden gust of wind induced a right-hand bank. Despite the pilot's attempts to correct the attitude using aileron and increased power, the right wingtip made contact with the runway surface. The aircraft then slid to the right into a field of wheat. During the subsequent slide, the rear of the fuselage and the left wingtip also impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the environmental conditions and the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the approach. The pilot's flying experience was noted as 276 total hours, with 24 hours specifically on this aircraft type.
Findings
- The approach was conducted during periods of localized storm activity and gusting winds.
- The pilot failed to maintain sufficient airspeed on approach to counteract the effects of the wind gusts.