History of the Flight
On 14 February 2019, Cessna 172R aircraft VT-TEH, operated by M/s Sha-Shib Flying Academy, was engaged in a solo training flight for circuit and landing exercise at Guna Airfield, Madhya Pradesh. The student pilot reported at 0900 IST and passed a breath analyzer test. Earlier that day, he completed an instrument flying sortie with an instructor on another aircraft. At 1400 IST, the Chief Flying Instructor authorized the solo circuit and landing exercise on VT-TEH and provided a preflight briefing covering weather, taxi, takeoff pattern, circuit pattern, approach, and landing. The student pilot completed preflight inspection.
He obtained ATC clearance for startup and a 30-minute circuit landing. After engine start, all parameters were normal. During taxi, winds were calm and visibility above 5000 meters. VT-TEH had been flown by another pilot earlier that day with no issues reported.
After takeoff from runway 14, the pilot raised flaps at 200 ft AGL, initiated a climbing left turn at 400 ft, leveled at 700 ft on crosswind, and reported downwind. ATC instructed to report on finals. At the end of downwind, he reduced RPM to 1600, selected 10 degrees flap, and maintained 85 knots. He turned base leg, reduced throttle to 1500 RPM, selected 20 degrees flap, reduced speed to 75 knots, and turned finals for runway 14.
On finals at 450 ft and 70 knots, he requested landing clearance. The approach appeared normal to the ATC personnel. At 200 ft, he reduced power and maintained 65 knots. According to the student pilot, a sudden updraft caused a gain in height. At 100 ft AGL, variable wind washed out airspeed, the aircraft sank, and hit the runway near the threshold. The aircraft bounced and drifted right. The pilot applied left aileron correction, but the aircraft hit the runway nose first and dragged due to propeller rotation. After a second bounce, the aircraft stopped at the runway edge. The student pilot shut off the engine and exited unaided.
ATC activated the siren, informed the CFI, and alerted emergency services. The student pilot was taken for a health checkup. No pre- or post-crash fire occurred.
Injuries to Persons
No injuries were reported. The sole occupant, the student pilot, was uninjured.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Observed damage included: both propeller tips bent in an S-shape (indicating engine power), cracked top inner right engine cowl, damaged bottom engine cowling from rubbing, bent exhaust pipe, damaged nose wheel assembly with hydraulic oil leak from broken pipelines, deflated right tire, broken left main landing gear axle with detached wheel assembly and bent brake pipeline, bent left wing spar at the second station from the tip (indicating right wing contacted the runway), detached left wing tip, bent aileron, broken fuel strainer drain point, broken firewall at nose landing gear attachment, rubbing marks under the cockpit belly, damaged firewall bulkhead, bent left engine mounting bracket, damaged nose oleo shock strut, broken hinge point in main bulkhead near the door, and broken induction air filter housing and ducts.
Personnel Information
The pilot was a student pilot holding a Student Pilot Licence (SPL).
Probable Cause
Improper flare during landing phase resulting in a stall. Improper stall and bounce recovery technique to recover the aircraft resulted in the accident.