What happened
On 29 June 2011, a Cessna 152, registration G-BNSM, was involved in an accident during a training flight at Bodmin Airfield, Cornwall. The aircraft was being operated by a student pilot who was performing his second solo flight. During the landing phase on Runway 31, the aircraft experienced a bounce upon contact with the runway, followed by a second, much heavier touchdown. This impact resulted in damage to the propeller, the wingtip, and the nose gear, the latter of which collapsed during the sequence. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the landing, specifically looking at the environmental conditions and the pilot's proficiency at the time of the event. The pilot noted that the wind conditions were a significant factor during the approach and landing on Runway 31. At the time of the accident, the pilot had a total of 43 flying hours, all of which were on this specific aircraft type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a heavy touchdown following an initial bounce on the runway.
- Environmental factors, specifically the wind conditions at the time of landing, acted as a contributory factor.
- The pilot's limited experience, being only on his second solo flight, was also considered a contributing factor to the landing error.