What happened
On 15 September 2007, a Cessna A150L Aerobat, registration G-BOYU, was performing a training flight at Barton (Manchester) Airfield. The student pilot was completing a qualifying solo navigation exercise and had joined the airfield via an overhead approach for Runway 27L. During the landing flare, the pilot's seat shifted slightly backward. This sudden movement caused the pilot to inadvertently apply excessive aft elevator.
As the aircraft bounced, the pilot attempted to correct the pitch by pushing the control yoke forward. However, because the sun was low on the horizon and positioned directly in the pilot's line of sight, they struggled to accurately judge the aircraft's pitch attitude. Consequently, the nose landing gear struck the runway surface with enough force to cause it to collapse. There were no injuries to the pilot, and the aircraft was vacated following the shutdown of fuel and electrics.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing flare and the environmental factors affecting the pilot's visibility. Investigators examined the movement of the cockpit seat and the pilot's ability to maintain control during the bounce. The investigation also considered the impact of the sun's position on the pilot's visual assessment of the aircraft's attitude relative to the runway.