Event History
On 8 May 2019, a student pilot was scheduled for a solo training flight from Strejnic Aerodrome (LRPW) to Urziceni and Mizil and return. The flight was preceded by an evaluation flight in the traffic pattern with an instructor. The evaluation flight began at 12:40 LT, lasted about 12 minutes, and proceeded normally. After landing, the instructor exited the aircraft, and the student pilot departed solo at 13:00 LT for the route flight, which also proceeded normally.
On return, at 8 NM from the aerodrome, the student pilot contacted the operational controller for clearance. Upon entering the airfield area, control was taken over by the instructor pilot, who was positioned at the threshold of runway 08. The student was informed of calm wind conditions and was advised that he was below the normal landing slope. He corrected the aircraft's position, configured for landing, and approach speeds were normal. The instructor noted the aircraft was approximately 3 m higher than normal in the landing zone and advised increasing engine power to avoid a hard landing.
The aircraft touched down approximately 30 m past the designated touchdown zone. After touchdown, it turned left, and before exiting the runway, it became airborne with a sharp pitch angle. The instructor radioed corrections to increase engine power and reduce pitch, but the student did not respond.
The aircraft lost lift, stalled, contacted the ground first with the left wing, and overturned at coordinates 44° 55' 31.7" N, 025° 57' 52.3" E. The student pilot exited the aircraft by himself. The instructor arrived at the scene, closed the fuel valve, and cut off electrical power. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The event was recorded by runway surveillance cameras.
Injuries and Damage
No injuries were reported. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
Pilot Information
The student pilot was a 38-year-old male training for a Private Pilot License. He held a valid Class 1 medical certificate and had a total flight experience of 60 hours with 289 landings, including 12 hours and 32 solo landings.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172S, registration YR-MDA, serial number 172S8114, manufactured in 1999. It was owned and operated by the Romanian Aviation Academy. The airworthiness certificate was valid. The aircraft is a high-wing, single-engine, four-seat monoplane with tricycle landing gear. It was powered by a Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine driving a two-blade fixed-pitch propeller.
Aerodrome Information
Strejnic Aerodrome is located west of Ploiești, Prahova County. It has two runways: a tarmac runway (08/26, 750 x 30 m) and a grass runway (09/27, 790 x 30 m). The elevation is 573 ft.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, weather was CAVOK with calm wind and QNH 1015 mb.
Operational Aspects
The report noted that during approach, flare, and touchdown, spatial orientation is critical. The flare is the transition from final approach attitude to touchdown attitude. Proper execution requires precise control of airspeed, attitude, power, and drag. Gaze technique and distance estimation are important for accurate flare. If a go-around is necessary, the aircraft flight manual specifies setting maximum power and retracting flaps to 20°, with an indicated climb speed of 60 KT.