What happened
On July 2, 2014, a Cessna 150, registered as RP-C6989 and operated by Red Wing Aviation International Inc., was conducting flight training at Plaridel National Airport in Bulacan. Following a series of takeoff and landing exercises and go-around procedures conducted with an instructor, the student pilot was cleared to perform a solo flight.
During the solo operation, the aircraft touched down ahead of the threshold of Runway 35. The aircraft bounced upon impact, leading to a nosewheel-first crash on the left center of the runway, approximately 15 feet from the centerline. The aircraft then veered toward the right, exiting the paved surface onto a grassy area. The aircraft came to a stop roughly 100 meters from the initial impact point. The incident resulted in no fatalities, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a broken nose landing gear strut and propeller damage.
The investigation
The AAIIB Go-Team inspected the aircraft at the operator's facility and conducted interviews with both the flight instructor and the student pilot. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing, the mechanical state of the aircraft, and the training protocols followed by the flight school.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was insufficient proficiency of the student pilot, specifically characterized by a delayed elevator control input and a failure to apply the necessary corrections to cushion the aircraft after it bounced.
- The flight instructor's decision to permit the student's first solo flight without notifying management was identified as a contributing factor.
- A lack of formal progress assessments was noted, as the instructor had not completed required grading sheets prior to the solo flight, which was a violation of the school's training manual.
Safety action
- The AAIIB recommended that the CAAP Flight Safety Services review the operator's training and procedures manual.
- Recommendations included establishing clearer policies for solo flight releases and ensuring stricter compliance regarding the completion of student grade slips.
- The board also suggested implementing a check-and-balance system where the Chief Flight Instructor verifies students before soloing and ensuring students undergo additional supervised flight hours to build proficiency.