What happened
On November 22, 2019, a student pilot was conducting a solo flight training mission at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport in Cali, Colombia. The flight followed a dual-instruction session that had concluded successfully earlier that morning. During the initial taxi, the pilot failed to execute a requested rolling takeoff and subsequently exited the runway via the incorrect taxiway after being instructed to vacate by Air Traffic Control.
Upon repositioning for a standard departure, the pilot entered a right-hand traffic pattern for runway 02. During the final approach, the aircraft maintained a high sink rate and a path that deviated from the centerline. The pilot was also reportedly distracted by adjusting the seat during the final stages of the approach. The Cessna 1SB impacted the runway with excessive force, striking the nose gear and propeller first. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce, leading to a second contact with the runway that collapsed the nose gear. The aircraft came to a stop between taxiways A and B. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a broken nose gear, propeller damage, engine stoppage, and damage to the firewall and exhaust.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the training progress of the student, the operational procedures of the flight school, and the sequence of the landing. Investigators found that the student, who had 34 total flight hours, was in the pre-solo phase of training. The investigation revealed that the flight school utilized an "assisted solo flight" modality that was not formally regulated under Colombian aeronautical regulations. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the student had not been properly instructed on stabilized approach criteria or the necessity of performing a go-around when an approach becomes unstable. The investigation also identified that the flight school lacked a clear limit on the maximum flight hours allowed before a student is authorized for their first solo flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the use of inadequate techniques by the pilot, specifically performing an unstabilized approach and failing to execute a go-around despite the deteriorating flight conditions.
- The flight school failed to adequately monitor the student's progress, skills, and fundamental knowledge before authorizing solo operations.
- The student experienced a distraction due to seat adjustments during the final approach.
- The flight school's training program lacked specific instruction regarding stabilized approach parameters and corrective actions.