What happened
On July 22, 2018, at approximately 18:20 UTC, a Cessna 152, registration PR-FFN, was performing a local flight at the Guaratuba Aerodrome (SSGB) in Paraná, Brazil. The aircraft, operated by Escola Paranaense de Aviação, was being flown solo by a student pilot as part of an advanced training phase (mission AP05).
During the flight, the pilot attempted a second touch-and-go maneuver. During this sequence, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, causing it to veer off the left side of the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the pilot's training history and the technical state of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, with valid maintenance logs and within weight and balance limits. Meteorological conditions were favorable for flight.
Investigators reviewed the student's flight training records, which revealed a pattern of recurring difficulties regarding landing techniques. Specifically, previous logs noted issues with the flare, abrupt or misaligned touchdowns, and excessive use of rudder pedals to correct the aircraft's position on the runway. While the student had recently passed a check flight with a satisfactory rating, the investigation noted that the student had previously undergone additional touch-and-go training sessions due to poor performance in earlier phases.
Findings
- Improper control inputs: The pilot failed to use effective flight controls and parameters during the landing phase.
- Limited experience: The pilot had very low flight time, totaling fewer than 50 hours.
- Inadequate instruction/supervision: There were indications of potential deficiencies in the quality of instruction provided and the evaluation of the student's progress.
- Pilot judgment: Errors in pilot judgment contributed to the loss of control on the ground.