What happened
On May 29, 2019, at approximately 11:00 local time, a Cessna 152, registration EC-DMC, was involved in an accident during a solo instructional flight at Sabadell Airport (LELL), Spain. The flight was part of a training session organized by Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell. After completing four successful take-offs and landings in dual instruction with a senior instructor, the student pilot was cleared to perform a solo circuit and landing.
During the final approach to runway 31, the student pilot altered the aircraft configuration by extending flaps from 10° to 20° very close to the runway threshold. This late configuration change caused the aircraft to balloon. In an attempt to correct the flight path and force the aircraft toward the runway, the pilot pushed the nose down. This resulted in a high vertical impact, causing the aircraft to bounce several times. During the subsequent bounces, the pilot's attempt to maintain a nose-down attitude led to the nose gear collapsing. The aircraft then slid along the runway for approximately 130 meters, with the propeller striking the pavement, before coming to a halt.
The investigation
The investigation examined the student pilot's training history, the aircraft's maintenance records, and the sequence of events leading to the impact. It was noted that the student pilot had previously struggled with landing techniques, requiring additional reinforcement sessions. On the day of the accident, the senior instructor had deemed the student prepared for solo flight following successful dual maneuvers.
The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's technical state, finding that the Cessna 152 had been properly maintained, with its last 50-hour inspection completed shortly before the event. Meteorological conditions were found to be favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and light winds.