Aircraft and Flight Details
The accident involved a Cessna 152, registration G-BPME, powered by a single Lycoming O-235-L2C piston engine. The aircraft was manufactured in 1982. The flight was a training sortie conducted on 28 April 2007 at approximately 1527 UTC at Southend Airport, Essex. The sole occupant was a 38-year-old student pilot with 21 hours of total flying experience, all on the same type. Her recent experience included 5 hours in the last 90 days and 1 hour in the last 28 days.
History of the Flight
Prior to the accident, the student pilot had completed several circuits with her instructor. Satisfied with her performance, the instructor left the aircraft to allow her to practice solo circuits; this was her second solo flight. Runway 06 was in use, which has an asphalt surface measuring 1,605 meters in length. The landing threshold is displaced by 174 meters, and a public road crosses the undershoot area close to the touchdown end of the runway.
The Incident
As the aircraft crossed over the road at approximately 50 feet, the pilot felt the aircraft roll from side to side. She sensed that the aircraft was too fast, although it had been trimmed for an approach speed of 65 knots. When she pulled back to flare for landing, the nose pitched up at a greater rate than expected, causing her to release back pressure. The aircraft then struck the runway surface and bounced. She attempted to control the landing, but the aircraft bounced again and came to a stop. The pilot later stated that at the time she could not recall the correct procedure for a bounced landing but remembered afterwards that she should have opened the throttle for a go-around.
Post-Accident Actions
After the aircraft came to a stop, the pilot selected the magnetos to 'OFF' and attempted to pull the mixture to 'idle cut off', but it was jammed. The fire service arrived, and she vacated the aircraft. The damage to the aircraft included the nose landing gear, engine, engine frame, and propeller. The pilot reported no injuries.