What happened
On November 23, 2000, at 12:52 local time, a Cessna F150L, registration EC-EIQ, was conducting a solo instructional flight at Tenerife South Airport. The aircraft had departed from Tenerife North earlier that morning with the intention of performing a series of takeoffs and landings at the southern aerodrome before returning to its origin.
During the second landing attempt on runway 08, the aircraft touched down with all three wheels simultaneously. This contact resulted in the aircraft bouncing back into the air for several meters. Upon the subsequent descent, the nose gear struck the runway surface with sufficient force to cause a collapse. The aircraft then slid along the runway on its main landing gear and the lower engine cowling until it came to a complete stop. The runway was closed for approximately 20 minutes while emergency services cleared the wreckage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the meteorological conditions and pilot statements to determine the sequence of events. At the time of the occurrence, visibility was excellent, exceeding 10,000 meters, with scattered clouds at 2,500 feet. The temperature was 23 degrees Celsius, and winds were calm with light gusts between 5 and 7 knots from 260 degrees.
Evidence from the pilot and instructor indicated that while the first landing was performed normally, the second landing attempt involved a tailwind component. The investigation focused on the physics of the touchdown and the subsequent loss of control following the bounce.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an improper landing maneuver by the pilot, which led to a simultaneous three-wheel touchdown.
- The touchdown occurred with enough vertical velocity to cause the aircraft to bounce.
- The pilot was unable to recover control of the aircraft following the bounce, leading to the nose gear impact.
- The presence of light tailwind gusts was determined to be insufficient to independently justify the accident.