What happened
On 28 April 2007, a Cessna 152, registration G-BPME, was involved in an accident during a training flight at Southend Airport, Essex. The aircraft was being operated by a student pilot performing her second solo circuit. Following several successful circuits with an instructor, the pilot attempted to land the aircraft alone.
During the approach, the aircraft was trimmed for 65 knots. As the pilot attempted to flare for touchdown, the nose pitched up more sharply than anticipated. In response, the pilot released back pressure, causing the aircraft to strike the runway surface. The aircraft then bounced twice. During the subsequent oscillations, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft continued to move along the runway before coming to a halt. Following the impact, the pilot found that the mixture control was jammed in the 'OFF' position, necessitating an evacuation while the fire service attended the scene.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence and the pilot's actions during the landing phase. It was noted that the student pilot had 21 hours of total flying experience, all of which were on this specific type. The investigation also considered the runway configuration at Southend, noting that Runway 06 features an asphalt surface and a displaced threshold of 174 metres, with a public road crossing the undershoot area.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, engine, engine frame, and the nose landing gear.
- There were no injuries to the pilot.
- The pilot experienced an unexpected pitch-up during the flare, leading to a loss of control during the landing attempt.
- The pilot failed to initiate a go-around after the initial bounce, instead attempting to continue the landing despite the aircraft's unstable state.