Incident Overview
On Saturday, August 25, 2012, at 11:38 local time, a Diamond DA 20-C1 with registration EC-KUX was involved in an accident at Reus Airport (LERS) in Tarragona. The aircraft, operated by the Real Aero Club de Reus, was conducting a solo training flight under the supervision of an instructor in a nearby aircraft.
Flight Sequence and Loss of Control
The student pilot, who held a valid student pilot authorization and had 35 total flight hours, completed initial maneuvers without incident. However, during subsequent landing attempts, the aircraft bounced on the runway, prompting the pilot to execute two go-arounds. During the third approach, the aircraft again bounced upon touchdown and yawed to the left. The pilot lost control, causing the plane to veer off the left side of Runway 25, cross the safety strip, and collide with the airport's perimeter fence.
Damage and Injuries
The impact resulted in significant structural damage to the aircraft, including a bent engine mount, detached nose and right main landing gear, and severe damage to the right wing. The student pilot exited the aircraft unharmed after shutting down the fuel and electrical systems. No other persons were injured.
Probable Cause Analysis
The investigation concluded that the accident was likely caused by the student pilot's anxiety following two previous go-arounds. This stress led to an inability to properly configure the aircraft for landing, resulting in a high-speed approach that caused bouncing and a subsequent loss of control.