Incident Overview
On 31 May 2025, at EPML airport, a Cessna C-152 (registration SP-KMG) was being used for training flights. The crew consisted of a student pilot and an instructor. After conducting five circuits, the instructor determined that the student was ready for solo flights. The first solo flight, which included a touch-and-go landing, was performed without incident.
Sequence of Events
During the second solo flight, due to increasing wind, the instructor directed the student to bring the aircraft to a full stop after landing. The student touched down with a high pitch attitude on the nose wheel, causing the aircraft to bounce three times. On the final bounce, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the propeller struck the runway surface. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including to the lower fuselage skin. The student pilot did not sustain any injuries.
Causes and Contributing Factors
The investigation identified the following causes and contributing factors:
- An excessively steep approach and a late flare during landing.
- Improper recovery from a bounced landing ("kangaroo") and partial loss of control after the bounce.
- Failure to execute a go-around.
- Stress experienced by the student during the initial solo flights.
Preventive Actions
The organization responsible for the training implemented the following preventive measures:
- A briefing was conducted with the ATO instructors, detailing the criteria for authorizing students to fly solo and proper crew responses to abnormal landing situations. Increased supervision of training flights by instructors was also ordered.
- A reminder was issued regarding the obligation of crews to familiarize themselves with normal and emergency procedures described in the flight manual and to use appropriate checklists.
Safety Recommendations
No safety recommendations were issued.