Incident Summary
On 24 July 2001 at 1428 hours UTC, a Cessna F152 (registration G-BLWV) sustained damage to its nose landing gear, engine, and propeller during a landing at Earls Colne Airfield in Essex. The aircraft was on a private, qualifying cross-country flight operated by a student pilot with 49 hours total flying experience (47 hours on type). The pilot was the sole occupant and was not injured.
Approach and Landing Sequence
The pilot was landing on grass Runway 24L. The runway surface was dry and the wind was light and variable. While established on final approach, the pilot realized he was higher than ideal. He lowered full flap and continued the approach at a steeper-than-normal angle. The airspeed exceeded 60 knots when he began the landing flare.
During the flare, the aircraft ballooned. The pilot attempted to correct by lowering the nose. The aircraft then touched down nosewheel first and bounced. After two additional bounces, the aircraft veered to the left. The nose landing gear struck the edge of an adjoining asphalt taxiway, and the propeller made contact with the surface. The aircraft came to a halt.
Pilot Actions and Aftermath
The pilot, who was wearing a lap and diagonal upper torso restraint, performed the basic engine shutdown actions and exited the aircraft without injury. In his report, the pilot attributed the accident to his failure to control airspeed on final approach and his decision not to initiate a go-around when he realized the airspeed was higher than ideal.