Cessna 152 crashes during training flight in Uetersen

Casualties unknown • Uetersen, DE

A training flight involving a flight instructor and a student pilot ended in a low-altitude crash at Uetersen/Heist airfield, resulting in one injury.

What happened

On March 18, 2010, a Cessna 152 was conducting a training flight at the Uetersen/Heist airfield (EDHE). The flight, which included a student pilot and a flight instructor, initially consisted of several maneuvers, including circuit patterns, steep turns, and VOR approaches. Following these exercises, the crew intended to perform landing practice without engine power.

During the first approach to runway 09, the student pilot performed a wide right-hand turn. The instructor noted that the aircraft was too close to the runway centerline at approximately 500 feet. The subsequent landing was performed too far behind the runway threshold.

During a second approach for a similar landing exercise, the flight instructor took control of the aircraft to demonstrate proper handling techniques to the student. According to the student pilot, the instructor performed maneuvers involving rapid changes in direction and lateral attitude to lose altitude. Although the student pilot requested that these maneuvers be stopped, the aircraft subsequently stalled while the instructor was attempting to realign the aircraft with the landing course. At approximately 18:50, the aircraft struck the runway threshold at a low altitude.

The investigation

The BFU investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's condition, and the actions of the crew. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft, a high-wing metal construction model, had undergone a 100-hour maintenance inspection only six hours prior to the accident. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, which were stable with Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) and clear visibility.

Findings

  • The aircraft sustained heavy damage, including a broken nose gear, a collapsed left wing root, and structural deformation to both wings.
  • The pilot sustained one minor injury.
  • The primary cause of the accident was the unstable flight attitude induced by the instructor's maneuvers to lose altitude, which led to an aerodynamic stall during the realignment phase of the approach.

Probable cause

The aircraft entered a stall and struck the runway threshold due to aggressive altitude-loss maneuvers performed by the flight instructor during the final approach.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2010-03-18 Cessna Aircraft Co. Cessna 152 accident near Uetersen, DE?

A training flight involving a flight instructor and a student pilot ended in a low-altitude crash at Uetersen/Heist airfield, resulting in one injury.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2010-03-18 involved a Cessna Aircraft Co. Cessna 152, at Uetersen, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft entered a stall and struck the runway threshold due to aggressive altitude-loss maneuvers performed by the flight instructor during the final approach.

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