What happened
On 4 March 1999, a Cessna A152, registration G-BOSO, was performing solo circuit and landing exercises at Fairoaks Airport in Surrey. The flight was being conducted by a student pilot with limited experience on this specific aircraft type. During the second touch-and-go procedure on Runway 06, the landing initially appeared stable and remained on the runway centerline. However, immediately upon touchdown, the aircraft began to veer toward the left side of the runway.
In an attempt to correct the deviation, the pilot increased engine power. This action proved counterproductive, as the increased thrust worsened the directional instability. The pilot subsequently closed the throttle, which allowed for the restoration of directional control. Despite this correction, the aircraft had already drifted off the paved runway surface and onto soft ground. As the nosewheel sank into the unpaved surface, the aircraft became inverted. The pilot escaped the wreckage through the standard exit and sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events following the touchdown and the pilot's subsequent control inputs. The assessment focused on the transition from the paved runway to the soft ground and the physical mechanics of the aircraft's inversion.
Findings
- The aircraft departed the paved runway surface during a landing maneuver.
- Increasing power during the leftward veer contributed to the loss of directional control.
- The nosewheel became embedded in the soft ground after the aircraft left the runway, leading to the aircraft flipping over.