What happened
On August 4, 2018, a Tecnam P2002-JF, registration SP-ILS, was conducting PPL(A) flight training at Sobienie-Jeziory (EPSJ) aerodrome. The flight involved an instructor and a student pilot performing several engine failure simulations during circuit patterns. During the fourth simulation of the day, the instructor throttled back the engine at 1,300 ft to simulate power loss.
As the aircraft approached the runway, the student pilot maintained a heading of approximately 60 degrees and deployed landing flaps. At an altitude of roughly 100 ft, the instructor issued a command to execute a go-around and began retracting the flaps. However, the student pilot misunderstood the instruction, believing the intent was to land on the current heading. To prevent what the student perceived as an incorrect maneuver, the student gripped the throttle lever firmly in the low-power position, physically preventing the instructor from increasing engine power.
The aircraft subsequently landed on the northern edge of the runway centerline, approximately 220 meters from the eastern threshold. The aircraft veered off the runway onto uneven terrain, causing the landing gear to collapse. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including broken landing gear, structural damage to the left wing, and propeller destruction. Both crew members survived, with the instructor sustaining a minor injury to the face due to loose seatbelts.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the cockpit dynamics and the sequence of events during the final approach. The investigators examined the flight history, noting that this was the student's first flight after a nearly one-year hiatus from training. The investigation also reviewed the instructor's qualifications and the mechanical state of the Tecnam P2002-JF.
Findings
- Improper crew communication was a primary cause, as the student failed to correctly interpret the instructor's go-around command.
- The student pilot physically blocked the throttle, preventing the instructor from applying necessary power to recover.
- The instructor failed to take decisive action to override the student's error.
- The instructor's relatively limited experience in flight instruction was a contributing factor.
- The student's recent return to flying after a long break increased stress and emotional pressure during the maneuver.