ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 280387
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Sunday 9 January 2022 |
| Time: | 19:47 UTC |
| Type: |  Cessna F172M Skyhawk |
| Owner/operator: | Northumbria Aerospace Ltd |
| Registration: | G-MOFO |
| MSN: | 172-1192 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1974 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320-E2D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Category: | Serious incident |
| Location: | A1 Road, near Newcastle Airport, Woolsington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Newcastle Airport (NCL/EGNT) |
| Newcastle Airport (NCL/EGNT) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Reims Cessna F172M G-MOFO was involved in a serious incident on 9 January 2022 when the pilot, undertaking a VMC night solo training flight, descended in a mistaken attempt to land on the main A1 road south east of Newcastle Airport, Woolsington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear. The aircraft descended to 200 amsl before the error was realised. The aircraft climbed, completed a circuit, and then landed normally at Newcastle Airport. It appears that the pilot confused the road lights on the A1 road with the landing lights at Newcastle.
According to the AAIB Summary into the incident (see link #1): "AAIB investigation to Reims Cessna F172M, G-MOFO. Inadvertent descent during night VMC flight, Newcastle International Airport, 9 January 2022.
The incident flight was the pilot’s first night solo during a Night Rating course. While downwind for a right-hand circuit, the pilot lost sight of the runway, misidentified lights from the nearby A1 dual carriageway and drifted off course to the south. While attempting to reacquire the runway lights he inadvertently allowed the aircraft to descend.
On realising he was lower than intended the pilot initiated a climb. Coincident with this, Newcastle ATC called for the pilot to climb when they saw the aircraft’s transponder Mode C altitude reducing toward 500 ft. Ground elevation in the area of the descent was approximately 200 ft amsl.
Once safely level, the pilot turned back toward the airfield. With assistance from Newcastle nATC, he regained visual contact with the runway and landed from an abbreviated left-hand circuit.
After a “debrief and a long ground brief on Newcastle features and radio procedures,” the pilot’s instructor cleared the pilot to continue his night-flying training.
=AAIB comment=
The pilot’s inadvertent descent highlights the increased risk from distraction, in this case looking for the runway lights, in situations where external visual cues are reduced".
G-MOFO is ex-HB-CYT (Swiss Registry, first Swiss registered 7 June 2002); first registered in the UK as G-MOFO on 17 August 2021
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB Final Report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62b19c7b8fa8f535763df258/Reims_Cessna_F172M_G-MOFO_07-22.pdf
2. https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/G-MOFO/1033310
3. https://www.radarbox.com/data/registration/g-mofo/1708796591
4. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/g-mofo
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Jul-2022 19:27 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 15-Jul-2022 06:25 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation