Accident Overview
On 18 December 2003 at 1530 UTC, a Cessna 152, registration G-BOOI, operated by a private pilot, was conducting a circuit at Stapleford Aerodrome in Essex. The aircraft sustained collapse of the nose landing gear and slight damage to the propeller. The pilot was uninjured.
Flight Details
The pilot was flying to maintain club recency and used Runway 04L, which has a grass surface 900 meters long and 30 meters wide. Weather conditions were good: surface wind calm, visibility exceeding 10 kilometers, and small amounts of high cloud.
First Approach and Go-Around
After a normal takeoff, the aircraft was positioned on the downwind leg. The pilot recalled that the low sun was in her eyes. On the base leg, two stages of flap were lowered, and the aircraft turned onto the final approach, where landing flap was selected. Believing the aircraft was high on the approach—possibly due to sun glare causing incorrect positioning—the pilot initiated a go-around on short final.
Second Approach and Landing
On the second approach, the aircraft was correctly positioned, stabilized at 60 knots approach speed, and fully configured for landing. A normal flare and touchdown were made, and for a moment the aircraft rolled along the runway. It then suddenly bounced, possibly due to a surface irregularity. Despite the pilot's efforts to maintain control, the aircraft bounced a second time. The pilot instinctively pushed forward on the control column, causing the aircraft to touch down on the nose landing gear first. The nose gear collapsed, and the propeller struck the runway surface, stopping the engine.
Aftermath
The aircraft came to rest, and the pilot carried out emergency shutdown procedures. Air traffic control observed the landing and dispatched the airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting Service; however, the pilot was able to vacate the aircraft through the normal exit.