What happened
On April 30, 2015, a Cessna C-150L, registration OB-1947, was conducting a solo flight lesson at the Capitán FAP “Renán Elías Olivera” International Airport in Pisco, Peru. The flight, operated by the flight training center CIAC-3 Alexander Lopez Vilela, was the student pilot's 29th flight lesson and part of a private pilot course.
After completing several successful circuits, the student pilot requested and was granted authorization for a 360-degree precision approach and landing. During the descent from 1,500 feet, the pilot realized the aircraft was too high and applied full flaps to continue the approach. The subsequent landing was heavy, resulting in an initial bounce. A second heavy contact occurred on the left edge of the runway, triggering a lateral runway excursion.
The aircraft veered off the runway, striking airfield lighting and the PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) light base. As the aircraft moved across the sandy terrain, the nose gear fractured upon hitting an uneven surface, causing a propeller strike and a dynamic capsize, which left the aircraft inverted.
The investigation
The investigation by the CIAA established that the flight was not strictly a solo operation, as another student pilot was acting as a passenger, which did not comply with local regulations. Furthermore, the specific maneuver being performed—a 36/0-degree precision approach—was not officially included in the student's approved flight lesson plan for that day.
The investigation also examined the training center's manuals, finding that the procedures for a "Go-Around" were not properly integrated into the training manual to address unstable approaches. Additionally, the instructor's role in supervising solo flights from the ground lacked specific requirements for continuous visual and communication monitoring.
Findings
- The primary cause was the loss of control during the landing phase due to an unstable approach and the failure to execute a timely go-around.
- The student pilot performed a maneuver (360-degree precision approach) that was not authorized for that specific flight lesson.
- The flight training center had not adopted "Stabilized Approach" procedures, which are recognized by ICAO to prevent landing accidents.
- There was a lack of oversight regarding the student's flight plan by the ground-based instructor.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage, including a broken nose gear and engine damage from the propeller strike, while airport lighting equipment was destroyed.