What happened
On April 7, 2018, a Reims Aviation F172N, registered PH-EAM, was performing a recreational flight from Midden-Zeeland to Lelystad Airport. During the landing phase, the aircraft encountered significant crosswind conditions. As the pilot attempted to land, the aircraft veered left, departing the paved surface of the runway. The excursion resulted in the aircraft turning over its nose and coming to a rest in an inverted position. While the occupants escaped no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a broken nose wheel strut, a bent propeller blade, and wing damage. The incident also caused damage to the electrical power supply cables for the runway lights.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing roll and the environmental conditions present at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the aircraft's movement after touchdown and the impact of the wind on the flight path. The inquiry established that the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the landing roll was a critical factor in the loss of directional control.