What happened
On August 14, 2009, a Cessna 172P, registration OK-LOS, was performing a flight from Brno – Tuřany to Letňany Airport (LKLT). During the final phase of the landing on runway 05R, the aircraft touched down on its main landing gear at a speed exceeding the recommended landing velocity. This caused the aircraft to bounce.
Following the bounce, the aircraft made a second contact with the ground, this time striking the nose gear with enough force to cause it to break. The impact resulted in damage to the propeller, engine cowlings, and the exhaust system, and caused the engine to stop abruptly. The aircraft came to a halt on the runway with the tail section of the fuselage raised. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the pilot held a valid PPL(A) with SEP land qualification and a valid medical certificate. The aircraft was also fully airworthy and properly insured. Witnesses at the airfield's AFIS station observed the aircraft at an altitude of approximately 70 meters above the runway threshold before the landing sequence began.
Findings
- The pilot had relatively limited experience on this specific aircraft type.
- The aircraft's altitude of approximately 70 meters at the runway threshold likely influenced the pilot's decision to accelerate the landing approach to utilize braking.
- The pilot failed to control the landing maneuver, specifically by applying inappropriate elevator input to counteract the bounce, which led to the violent impact of the nose gear.