Incident Overview
On July 30, 2015, at 19:48 local time, a student pilot (male, age 33) was conducting his first solo flight in a Cessna 152 at Warsaw/Modlin Airport (EPMO). Earlier that day, he had completed three check flights with an instructor (female, age 28), who then cleared him for solo circuits. The instructor left the aircraft and supervised from a safe distance near runway 26, between taxiways B and C.
Flight Sequence
The student pilot took off for his first solo flight. The takeoff and climb were normal. The EPMO tower controller instructed him to hold over the India CTR point due to IFR traffic approaching for landing. The student complied and, after 8–9 minutes, was cleared to continue the approach to runway 26. The approach and landing were stable, with the main wheels touching down first, followed by a normal rollout, as assessed by the instructor.
Incident Details
During the landing rollout, the student initiated a touch-and-go procedure. As he added power, the aircraft lost directional control and veered toward the left edge of the runway. The student reduced power and applied brakes upon realizing the loss of control. He noticed that the flaps remained in the 20° position. The aircraft departed the runway 26 surface before taxiway C, coming to rest on the grass approximately 50 meters from the runway, near taxiway C.
Post-Incident Actions
The student asked the tower controller via radio if he could taxi to taxiway C and then to parking area S. The controller denied taxi clearance, ordered the engine shut down, and instructed him to wait for airport services. The airport duty officer, airport fire brigade, and the supervising instructor arrived. The tower controller closed taxiway C to operations. In coordination with the duty officer, operations on runway 26 were suspended, delaying two approaching passenger aircraft. After confirming safe separation and inspecting the runway, operations resumed at 19:57.
Aircraft and Personnel Status
Inspection of the aircraft revealed no damage. The aircraft was manually pulled onto taxiway C and rechecked; no damage was found, and it was taxied under its own power to parking area S. The student pilot had valid theoretical training (until June 20, 2016) and a Class 2 medical certificate (valid until March 6, 2016). His total flight experience was 12 hours 23 minutes. The instructor held a valid FI(A) rating (until September 30, 2017) and SEP(L) rating (until July 31, 2017), with a Class 1 medical certificate (valid until March 13, 2016). Her total flight time was about 900 hours, with approximately 600 hours on the Cessna 152 and about 300 hours of instructional time. Weather conditions were not a factor in the incident.
Contributing Circumstances
The investigation noted two contributing circumstances: the student pilot's low level of experience, and the improper configuration of the aircraft for the subsequent takeoff (flaps at 20°).