Cessna 152 Runway Excursion at Cascais Aerodrome (CS-AVD)

Overview and Flight History On 31 August 2006, a Cessna 152, registration CS-AVD, owned by Escola de Aviação Aerocondor (EAA), departed runway 35 at Cascais Municipal Aerodrome at 10:35 UTC with an instructor and a student pilot aboard. The flight was a training exercise to evaluate the student's proficiency for a first solo flight, which required three circuits and landings. After four normal landings, the instructor disembarked around 11:10 UTC, allowing the student to continue alone. During the first solo circuit, the student executed a missed approach. The second landing was normal. On the subsequent landing, the student was unable to maintain directional control. The aircraft departed the left edge of runway 35 at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to its longitudinal axis. After traveling about 30 meters, it came to rest in the drainage ditch associated with the Ribeira das Marianas. ## Impact and Damage The propeller and engine cowlings struck the side wall of the ditch, while the left wingtip collided with the sloped ground on the opposite bank. The aircraft slid into the ditch and remained suspended by its wings. The student pilot exited the aircraft under his own power and was recovered by aerodrome rescue services. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including deformation of the structure, rupture of the fuel tank covering, a propeller with blades bent backward and a dented hub cone, damaged engine cowlings, deformation of the left wing at the tip and root, and broken main landing gear legs. No third-party damage occurred. ## Pilot and Aircraft Information The pilot was a 30-year-old male Portuguese national holding a student pilot license. He had a total of 21 hours and 40 minutes of flight experience, all on the Cessna 152. His medical certificate was valid with no limitations or restrictions. The aircraft was a single-engine, high-wing, tricycle-gear monoplane with a maximum takeoff mass of 757.5 kg and a capacity for two occupants. It was powered by a Lycoming O-235-L2C engine and equipped with a McCauley 1A103/TCM6958 propeller. The aircraft was manufactured in 1978 and had a serial number of 15279997. ## Meteorological and Aerodrome Conditions The aerodrome did not have its own meteorological service and used readings and forecasts from Lisbon Airport. The tower provided updated wind and QNH information for the aerodrome. At the time of the accident, the local wind was 010/10. Cascais Municipal Aerodrome is served by an asphalt runway measuring 1,190 by 30 meters, oriented 170 degrees/350 degrees. Along its entire length, 25 meters from the runway edge on the west side, there is an open drainage ditch for rainwater runoff. The ditch is approximately 3.5 meters wide and 2.5 meters deep, including the slopes on either side. The base and side walls are constructed of reinforced concrete, and the earthen berms have a steep slope. ## Investigation Findings The aircraft was not equipped with flight recorders, nor was this required by the legislation in force. Examination of the wreckage showed that as the aircraft approached the ditch, it lowered its nose, gained some speed, and struck the left wall of the ditch with the propeller and main landing gear. The left wingtip then hit a conical cement collector on the opposite bank. The aircraft came to rest with its nose pointing at 330 degrees. The main landing gear legs broke upon impact with the wall and were projected about 10 meters to each side of the aircraft. All other components remained grouped together. The structure was bent due to contact with the ground. The propeller blades were bent backward because it struck while rotating. The engine cowlings were damaged by the impact with the wall. The left wingtip was folded upward due to the impact with the conical part of the collector. The structure and fuel tank covering of the left wing were damaged during the wing's impact with the collector. The left wheel rotated freely on its axle, ruling out the possibility that it had locked during landing. The cockpit was intact. No evidence of malfunction of the aircraft or its systems, including the brakes, was detected that could have influenced the sequence of events. Although fuel leaked from the aircraft, no fire occurred. The use of safety belts contributed to preserving the pilot's physical integrity. ## Organization and Management EAA is a flight school certified by the National Institute of Civil Aviation (INAC), operating in accordance with JAR-FCL standards and other directives established by INAC. The instructors were properly qualified and certified for their duties. The Flight Operations Manual is approved by INAC and contains detailed information on all flight procedures and company policies regarding the operation of the various aircraft registered in its Operator Certificate. The standards for the selection, monitoring, and verification of instructors are adequate and demanding, as are the regulations governing student behavior and their evaluation.