History of the Flight
On 26 April 2018, Cessna 152 aircraft VT-PTD, operated by Falcon Aviation Academy at Faizabad, was scheduled for an instrument flying sortie with a flight instructor and a student pilot. The flight was part of the student's training exercise. The aircraft had completed two earlier sorties that day without any reported abnormalities. The third sortie departed from Runway 12 at 0521 UTC, climbing to 1000 feet in sector south to conduct a GPS-assisted 5 NM arc approach for Runway 12. At approximately 0550 UTC, while on final approach course, the crew observed engine vibrations and a drop in RPM. The instructor took control and attempted to manage the issue, but the engine subsequently stopped. Efforts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. With the aircraft losing height, the instructor decided to execute a forced landing and headed toward the Saryu riverbed. Pre-forced landing checks were performed, and the aircraft speed was regulated at approximately 65 knots. The aircraft touched down on its main landing gears on the sandy riverbed and rolled for about 213 feet. As the nose landing gear contacted the ground, it sank into the sand, causing the aircraft to topple. Both crew members evacuated without injury. The instructor notified the Chief Flying Instructor and other authorities at 0602 UTC, and a search and rescue team arrived.
Injuries to Persons
No injuries were sustained by any persons. The two crew members reported no injuries.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a bent nose landing gear with broken mounting and steering rod, broken engine mounts at three points, dents to the nose cowling, bulging and wrinkles on both wings, cracks and bulging on the tail cone, and damage to the tail fin.
Personnel Information
The instructor pilot, aged 49, held a Commercial Pilot License and had 4524:30 hours total flying experience, with 3612:30 hours on the Cessna 152. The trainee pilot, aged 28, held a Student Pilot License and had 162:55 hours total flying experience, with 95:30 hours on type. Both pilots were current in their medical certifications and had adequate rest prior to the flight. Neither had been involved in previous serious incidents or accidents.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 152 is an all-metal, two-place, high-wing, single-engine airplane with tricycle landing gear. The aircraft (registration VT-PTD) was owned and operated by Falcon Aviation Academy, Faizabad.
Other Details
The accident occurred at approximately 0600 UTC on the Saryu River bed, Faizabad. The flight was a training sortie under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions. The aircraft had no flight recorders. No fire occurred. The accident was classified as an accident under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. The investigation was conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.