What happened
On July 21, 2024, at approximately 17:40 local time, a Cessna 152 was performing a solo navigation flight as part of a student pilot's training. While attempting to land on Runway 08 at the Melipilla Aerodrome (SCMP) in the Metropolitan Region, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before the end of the runway. The aircraft exited the paved surface and came to rest inside an irrigation canal located approximately 36 meters east of the runway terminus. The canal was roughly 5 meters wide and 3 meters deep.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft and the site conditions following the excursion. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft, which belonged to a flight school, sustained significant structural damage. Specifically, the propeller blades were damaged, the lower engine cowling was fractured, and the wing strut fairings were broken. The impact also caused the nose gear strut to fracture and deform, leading to fractures and deformation in the engine mount at the junction with the nose gear. The braking system was inspected and found to be fully functional with no leaks detected.
Meteorological data from the nearby El Paico-Melipilla station indicated light winds between 1.8 km/h and 5 km/h, originating from the southeast to the west, under clear skies. The pilot, a student with 74 total flight hours, exited the aircraft unassisted and sustained no injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft failed to stop within the available runway length during the landing roll.
- The inability to decelerate the aircraft before the runway end resulted in the excursion into the adjacent irrigation canal.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, engine mount, and nose landing gear.