What happened
On May 6, 1972, a Cessna 172 H, registration N 20462, was performing a maintenance test flight at Geneva-Cointrin airport. After completing engine adjustments, the pilot and a mechanic departed for a local flight. Although the pilot's original flight plan intended for a landing on the paved runway, air traffic control instructed the aircraft to use the grass runway due to heavy commercial traffic. Following two missed approaches, the aircraft landed on a section of the runway that was closed to operations and marked with white crosses.
At 16:46 local time, the aircraft collided with one of the runway markings. There were no injuries to the occupants, and the aircraft sustained only minor damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's airworthiness, and the airport's signaling procedures. The pilot, holding an FAA private pilot license, had limited experience with grass runway operations and stated he did not understand the meaning of the white crosses. The aircraft was found to be in airworthy condition, with no mechanical failures contributing to the event.
At the time of the incident, visibility was 6 km with light rain. Due to ongoing construction, the active grass runway had been temporarily relocated. The closed runway was clearly marked with three 4x4 meter white crosses and red and white beacons. The investigation also noted that a ground controller, observing the incorrect approach, attempted to contact the control tower via telephone but was unsuccessful because the tower was preoccupied with heavy traffic.
Findings
- The pilot's lack of familiarity with ground markings and grass runway operations led to a misinterpretation of the active runway area.
- The pilot had not updated his situational awareness regarding the specific details of the temporary grass runway layout.
- While the airport had implemented extensive markings to distinguish the active runway from the closed one, the pilot failed to recognize the significance of the white crosses.
- The ground controller's attempt to alert the tower was unsuccessful due to high traffic volume in the control tower.