What happened
On 24 May 2009, a Cessna 152, registration G-BMSU, was engaged in a training flight at Sandtoft Airfield, Lincolnshire. The pilot, a student with 44 total flying hours, had successfully completed four circuits with an instructor earlier that day. Following these successful maneuvers, the instructor authorized the student to perform a second solo circuit.
While the initial solo circuit was completed without incident, the second circuit resulted in an unstable approach. The aircraft was flying too low and at an insufficient airspeed during the final approach phase. In an attempt to correct the altitude, the pilot increased engine power; however, this late adjustment was unsuccessful. The aircraft subsequently made a heavy landing and bounced. During the following impact, the nose landing gear detached from the airframe, causing the aircraft to come to rest on its nose. The propeller, engine, and bulkhead sustained damage, but the pilot escaped the aircraft without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the flight parameters during the final approach and the mechanical failure of the landing gear. The pilot provided an account acknowledging that the approach speed and altitude were incorrect and that the decision to continue the landing rather than performing a go-around was a contributing factor.