What happened
On March 4, 2021, a Cessna 150, registration HK1010G, was conducting solo flight training maneuvers, specifically runway work, at Yariguíes Airport in Barrancabermeja, Colombia. During the first landing attempt of the session, the student pilot executed a hard landing that caused the aircraft to bounce. Following the impact, the nose gear and propeller struck the runway surface, causing the engine to stall abruptly. The aircraft subsequently veered to the right and exited the runway into the safety area.
The student pilot evacuated the aircraft uninjured. The incident caused significant damage to the engine, propeller, and nose gear, as well as various other components including the engine mount, firewall, and instrument panel supports. There were no injuries to the single occupant.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation examined the flight history, the student pilot's training progress, and the maintenance records of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy and all documentation was up to date. Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident were excellent, with calm winds and high visibility, meaning weather was not a contributing factor.
The investigators analyzed the student pilot's training status, noting that while the student had successfully completed ground school, the flight school had not sufficiently emphasized the parameters of a stabilized approach. Furthermore, the investigation found that the flight school had not performed adequate risk assessments for solo flight operations, which could have identified the risks associated with a student's lack of proficiency in managing unstable approaches.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an unstable approach characterized by excessive speed and a high descent angle.
- The student pilot failed to recognize the unstable condition or apply corrective actions, such as performing a go-around.
- The hard landing resulted in an abnormal contact with the runway, leading to the loss of directional control.
- The flight school lacked sufficient training emphasis on stabilized approach parameters and the mandatory use of go-arounds when criteria are not met.
- There was a lack of adequate risk management by the instructor and the training organization regarding the student's solo flight capabilities.