What happened
On June 30, 2009, a student pilot was conducting a solo flight for the purpose of obtaining a student pilot certificate. The flight, operated by Aero Club Casalese, departed from the Voghera/Rivanazzano airport on runway 34. After completing a western traffic pattern, the Piper PA-28-140, registration I-CVDA, attempted to land on the same runway.
Upon initial contact with the runway, the aircraft bounced. Following two subsequent bounces, the nose gear made contact with the pavement. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse to the right, triggering a sharp yaw. This maneuver resulted in the left wing and propeller striking the asphalt surface. The aircraft eventually came to a stop at the edge of the runway. The pilot was uninjured and evacuated the aircraft safely after shutting down the engine.
The accident caused extensive damage to the aircraft, including a broken engine mount, damaged nose gear, left wing damage, and a broken cabin canopy and air box. The engine also suffered a sudden stoppage due to a propeller strike.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the flight dynamics and the pilot's training background. While the instructor had authorized the solo flight following two successful dual-instruction missions that day, the investigation noted that the student's training had been highly intermittent. The student had been training for approximately 15 months, with gaps of several months between flight sessions.
Furthermore, the investigation examined the pilot's medical and psychological fitness. Following the accident, the pilot underwent extraordinary medical evaluations. These assessments, which included psychological and cognitive testing, ultimately determined that the pilot lacked the necessary psycho-aptitudinal requirements for the renewal of a Class 2 medical certificate.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the inadequate management of the landing maneuver.
- The pilot failed to properly manage the aircraft's pitch, power, and speed during the approach, leading to an excessive touchdown speed and uncontrolled bounces.
- The student's training was discontinuous, spanning over a year with long interruptions, which likely prevented the consolidation of essential piloting skills.
- A lack of psycho-aptitudinal requirements in the pilot may have negatively impacted decision-making and aircraft control during the solo flight.