Casualties unknown

2020-06-13: Cessna, 152 (SP-KCU) — Pruszcz Gdański (EPPR), PL

Pruszcz Gdański (EPPR), PL

On June 13, 2020, a Cessna, 152 (registration SP-KCU) was involved in an aviation accident near Pruszcz Gdański (EPPR), PL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Error in piloting technique, consisting of lack of flare during landing, and unskillful correction of a bounced landing. This summary draws on records from the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL).

Sourcesthe Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL)Primary reportUpdated 1785092869Data APIEditorial standards

On 13 June 2020, a student pilot flying a Cessna 152 solo at Pruszcz Gdański Airport experienced a hard landing after a bounce, causing nose gear failure and propeller strike. The student was uninjured.

Accident Details

On 13 June 2020, a Cessna 152 (registration SP-KCU) operated by an unnamed user was conducting solo circuit training at Pruszcz Gdański Airport (EPPR). The aircraft was flown by a student pilot.

Sequence of Events

The student pilot completed the first circuit and landing without incident. During the second circuit, the approach and landing were performed incorrectly. The student pilot did not execute the flare phase, resulting in a touchdown followed by a bounce to an altitude of approximately 1 meter. The aircraft then descended and made a hard three-point landing.

During the hard touchdown, the nose wheel separated, the nose gear fork fractured, and the propeller struck the runway surface, causing the engine to stop. The aircraft continued its ground roll on the main landing gear and lower engine cowling for about 50 meters before coming to a stop.

Findings

The student pilot exited the aircraft unaided and sustained no injuries. The flight instructor supervising the operation was positioned directly adjacent to the runway and observed the landing but did not intervene.

Probable Cause

The accident was attributed to an error in piloting technique: failure to perform the flare phase during landing, combined with an unskillful correction of the bounced landing.

Contributing Factors

Factors that contributed to the accident included the student pilot's limited experience (0 hours 30 minutes of solo flight time) and the lack of reaction from the supervising instructor to the developing situation.

Preventive Actions

Following the event, the aircraft operator discussed the incident with flight personnel, emphasizing the importance of attention distribution during circuit flight and proper correction of landing errors. No safety recommendations were specified.

Investigation report by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL). Original record: https://pkbwl.gov.pl/raporty/2020-1406/. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the Panstwowa Komisja Badania Wypadkow Lotniczych (PKBWL), Poland.