What happened
On April 23, 2021, a Cessna 152, registration PT-FJC, was conducting a flight training mission consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers at the Anápolis Aerodrome (SWNS) in Goiás, Brazil. The aircraft was operated by Escola de Aviação Civil PLA Eireli - ME, carrying a flight instructor and a student pilot.
During the third touch-and-go sequence, the aircraft experienced a heavy impact upon landing. The student pilot attempted to correct the landing by applying excessive aft elevator input, which triggered a severe bounce. As the aircraft returned to the air, the high pitch attitude caused a rapid decay in airspeed. Although the instructor applied power to stabilize the go-around, the aircraft continued to maintain an excessively high nose attitude, eventually entering a stall at a very low altitude. The aircraft struck the ground with significant force, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Both occupants sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the aerodynamic sequence of the landing and the cockpit dynamics between the instructor and the student. Investigators reviewed the student pilot's training records, which indicated recent difficulties with aircraft attitude and trajectory control, as well as a tendency to experience stress-induced performance degradation.
The investigation also examined the aircraft's maintenance status, finding that PT-FJC was airworthy, within weight and balance limits, and had undergone its most recent 50-hour inspection recently. Meteorological conditions at the time were reported as being well above the minimums required for VFR flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the student pilot's excessive elevator input following a landing bounce, which induced a high angle of attack and subsequent stall.
- The student pilot's lack of experience and difficulty managing stress contributed to the improper recovery attempt.
- Ineffective cockpit coordination and communication were noted, as the instructor had to use both hands to attempt to push the control column forward to reduce the pitch, suggesting the student may have been maintaining firm control of the yoke.
- The ground effect may have temporarily masked the rapid loss of airspeed, delaying the immediate recognition of the need for an effective go-around.
- Contributing factors included poor piloting judgment and issues with cockpit coordination during the critical phase of flight.