Incident Overview
On February 24, 2003, at 16:22 local time, a Socata TB-10, registration EC-FSP, was conducting touch-and-go training at Salamanca Airport. The flight involved an instructor and two students. The incident occurred during the second touch-and-go of the second student's session.
Sequence of Events
After touchdown, as the aircraft rolled down the runway, the instructor and student were configuring the aircraft for takeoff by selecting flap position. The aircraft began to deviate to the left. The instructor immediately applied right rudder and maximum braking. Despite these actions, the aircraft exited the left side of the runway, sliding sideways. The nose gear collapsed after crossing the runway edge lighting conduit, and the propeller and right wingtip struck the ground.
Aircraft Damage
The right wingtip was crushed longitudinally. The nose gear and its attachment structure fractured. The wing root showed slight deformation from contact with the ground. Both propeller blades were bent.
Crew Information
The instructor, aged 23, held a commercial pilot license with 347 total flight hours, including 148 hours on the type. The student held a student pilot license with 24 hours and 20 minutes total, all on the type.
Weather Conditions
Wind at the time was from 210° at 11 knots, aligning with the runway axis.
Runway Excursion Analysis
The aircraft touched down without issue. Approximately 600 meters from the threshold, it began veering left, entering the runway strip 50 meters later. Tire marks on the pavement indicated heavy braking, with the nose wheel track overlapping the right main wheel track, suggesting uneven braking.
Touch-and-Go Procedure
The operator's training manual specified that after landing, with the aircraft safely on the ground, the pilot should decide whether to stop or continue. The procedure included selecting flap to takeoff position, trim to takeoff, throttle to maximum power, and continuing a normal takeoff.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated: "With the aircraft aligned on the runway and throttle at idle, as we were about to execute the touch-and-go procedure, the aircraft began a sharp deviation to the left. Not responding to correction, I applied braking, but the runway exit was inevitable."
Analysis and Conclusions
The weather conditions were good, with wind aligned to the runway. The runway width allowed sufficient margin for correction, and the taxi speed was likely low as maximum power had not yet been applied. No technical difficulties were apparent that would prevent maintaining alignment. The probable cause of the incident was determined to be the student's lack of training in handling the pedals that steer the nose wheel (linked to the rudder) and the brakes, which initially caused a misalignment with the runway centerline. The brake marks on the runway edge, corresponding to the moment the instructor took over, indicate that corrective actions were not taken quickly enough.