Accident Summary
On September 22, 2015, at approximately 11:09 JST, a Cessna 172S, registration JA31HA, operated by Honda Airways Co., Ltd., sustained substantial damage during landing on Runway 32 at Honda Airport in Okegawa City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The aircraft was conducting a solo flight training. The trainee, the only person on board, was not injured. No fire occurred.
Flight History
The trainee had completed seven takeoff and landing circuits with an instructor (Instructor A) before being cleared for solo flight. The first solo landing was uneventful. During the second approach, the trainee initiated a flare at an altitude he perceived as slightly higher than usual. Despite this, he continued the flare without performing a go-around. The aircraft descended rapidly, touched down, and bounced. Instructor A, observing from the air traffic control trailer, radioed "power, power, power" to prompt a go-around. After the bounce, the aircraft porpoised, resulting in a second touchdown on the nose landing gear, and the empennage struck the runway. The trainee then executed a go-around. During the subsequent climb, the primary flight display (PFD) showed a red X, indicating a malfunction. Instructor A instructed the trainee to use standby instruments. The third landing was performed normally.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its airframe. The extent of damage is not further detailed in the report.
Probable Causes
The Japan Transport Safety Board determined that the accident occurred when the aircraft made a dropped landing and bounced; subsequently, it strongly grounded again from the nose landing gear, causing the empennage to strike the runway due to the reaction and the go-around operation. The trainee continued a flare operation without executing a go-around to prevent a dropped landing, even though he felt that the altitude to commence the flare was slightly higher than usual. It is somewhat likely that his maneuvering skill was not at the level required for safe and stable landing. Additionally, the company did not have a proper skill management system for flight trainees and allowed solo flight even though the trainee's skill did not fulfill its safety criteria. The methods for supervision and instruction for solo flight training were inadequate, contributing to the accident.