Cessna 152 veers off runway following abrupt avoidance maneuver

Casualties unknown • Aviosuperficie di Arena Po (PV), IT

A flight training maneuver intended to avoid perceived power lines resulted in a Cessna 152 overshooting the grass runway at Arena Po.

What happened

On May 27, 2005, a Cessna 152, registration I-AMDC, was conducting a training flight focused on landing and takeoff practice at the Arena Po airstrip. The aircraft had departed from Biella and was on final approach for runway 21 when the instructor, acting as support pilot, identified utility poles near the runway threshold. Believing that overhead power lines might be present, the instructor immediately took control of the aircraft and executed a sharp pitch-up maneuver to avoid a perceived collision.

Following this sudden correction, the instructor decided to continue the descent rather than performing a go-around, citing the aircraft's low speed, full flap configuration, and high ambient temperature. During the subsequent landing on the grass surface, the aircraft bounced, causing a loss of braking effectiveness. The aircraft continued past the end of the runway, narrowly avoiding a building, before the left wing struck a fence post.

The investigation

The ANSV investigation confirmed that while the utility poles were indeed part of a medium-voltage line, there were no suspended cables in the approach path, as the wires had been buried to remove obstacles. The investigation focused on the decision-making process of the instructor and the physical dynamics of the landing. Investigators examined the aircraft's flight parameters, the environmental conditions, and the coordination between the two pilots on board.

Findings

  • The instructor performed a sudden and unplanned corrective maneuver based on a perceived threat that did not exist.
  • The maneuver was inappropriate for the actual operational situation and altered the descent trajectory significantly.
  • The decision to continue the landing rather than go-around resulted in the aircraft touching down further down the runway, reducing the available stopping distance.
  • A lack of thorough reconnaissance of the airstrip prior to landing contributed to the error.
  • There was suboptimal coordination between the pilot and the instructor during the critical phase of flight.

Probable cause

The primary cause was an abrupt, unnecessary avoidance maneuver performed by the instructor due to a misidentification of overhead hazards, which led to an unstable approach and subsequent runway excursion.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2005-05-27 Cessna 152, accident near Aviosuperficie di Arena Po (PV), IT?

A flight training maneuver intended to avoid perceived power lines resulted in a Cessna 152 overshooting the grass runway at Arena Po.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2005-05-27 involved a Cessna 152,, registration I-, at Aviosuperficie di Arena Po (PV), IT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The primary cause was an abrupt, unnecessary avoidance maneuver performed by the instructor due to a misidentification of overhead hazards, which led to an unstable approach and subsequent runway excursion.

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