Incident Overview
On 21 June 2023, a Cessna F152, registered as SP-CKP, experienced a serious incident during takeoff from the Grądy aerodrome. The aircraft was operated by a pilot holding a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) and was executing a navigational flight along the route Grądy–Łódź–Grądy. The pilot had accumulated 26 hours 39 minutes of flight time since the beginning of the year, and due to his regular training, the training organization no longer provided direct oversight of his flight planning.
Sequence of Events
The pilot began the takeoff roll at 09:13 local time (LMT) on runway heading 093. Analysis of two security camera recordings from the aerodrome showed that the pilot initiated rotation at too low a speed, lifting the aircraft off the runway at near-critical angles of attack. He failed to control the airspeed and attempted to continue climbing, which led to an aerodynamic stall, a loss of lift, and an uncontrolled bounce off the runway surface. Following the bounce, the pilot reacted abruptly by pushing the control yoke forward forcefully, causing a second impact with the runway, this time on the nose landing gear.
The pilot lost longitudinal control of the aircraft, resulting in two further bounces. During these events, the nose landing gear collapsed, the propeller contacted the ground, and the engine shut down. The aircraft came to a stop approximately 200 meters before the end of the runway.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was equipped with enlarged and full fuel tanks (140 liters). The pilot weighed approximately 82 kg. At the time of the incident, the ambient temperature was 26°C (ISA +11°C). The pilot did not perform a weight and balance calculation before the flight; however, a later analysis by the aircraft operator showed that the maximum takeoff mass was not exceeded and the center of gravity remained within the allowable envelope. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a collapsed nose gear, a destroyed propeller, and a damaged engine frame.
The pilot held valid qualifications and a current medical certificate. The aircraft was airworthy and maintained in accordance with regulations.
Probable Causes
The investigation identified two probable causes:
- Attempted liftoff during the takeoff roll at too low a speed while flying at near-critical angles of attack, resulting in a stall and uncontrolled bouncing off the runway surface.
- Incorrect pilot reactions to the bounces of the aircraft off the runway.
Contributing Factors
A contributing factor was improper pre-flight preparation, which included failure to determine the aircraft's center of gravity position under the given loading conditions and a lack of conclusions drawn from such an assessment.
Safety Actions
Following the incident, the training organization's safety team recommended that the pilot undergo theoretical training on aircraft performance and flight planning, as well as simulator training on bounced landing recovery procedures in accordance with the aircraft's flight manual. On 30 December 2023, the safety team conducted a meeting and training session for licensed pilots, during which similar aviation events were discussed. No safety recommendations were issued by the investigation commission.