What happened
On February 23, 2025, a student pilot was conducting solo training flights at EPPR following successful check flights with an instructor. After completing two successful solo circuits, the student began the third circuit. During the fourth turn of this circuit, the pilot failed to complete the maneuver in a timely manner, resulting in the aircraft being positioned off the landing approach axis.
The aircraft was approaching the runway with a slight crosswind and at an excessive airspeed. The pilot struggled to correct the lateral drift effectively. During the landing flare, the pilot leveled the aircraft too high. In an attempt to correct this error, the pilot pushed the control yoke away from themselves, which disrupted the longitudinal stability of the flight. Consequently, the aircraft struck the ground on its nose gear. The impact caused the nose gear strut to break and the propeller to sustain significant damage. The Cessna 152, registration SP-GDC, came to a stop several dozen meters beyond the runway. The student pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the student's training history, and the instructor's oversight. The inquiry focused on the pilot's handling of the crosswind approach, the specific control inputs made during the flare, and the lack of intervention by the supervising instructor during the student's errors on approach.