What happened
On 28 October 2017, a Diamond DA-20 aircraft, registration EC-LTE, was performing a solo local flight at the La Axarquía aerodrome in Vélez-Málaga, Spain. The aircraft was being operated by a student pilot undergoing a private pilot license course, under the ground-based supervision of an instructor.
During the flight, the pilot performed two initial approaches to runway 12, one of which resulted in a touch-and-go and another that necessitated a missed approach. On the third attempt, the pilot landed but failed to stop within the runway limits, overrunning the pavement and coming to a rest against the aerodrome's perimeter fence. The student pilot exited the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the pilot's actions, and the environmental factors at the time of the incident. The investigation established that the aircraft sustained damage to its propeller, the leading edges of both wingtips, the base of the right wing, and the nose landing gear. Additionally, a 15-meter section of the aerodrome's perimeter fence was damaged upon impact.
Findings
- The incident was caused by the execution of an improper landing maneuver, characterized by a high approach and landing on the final third of the runway.
- The student pilot experienced significant psychological stress due to the perceived failure of the two previous approaches.
- A desire to complete the flight within the scheduled period, as another student was waiting for the aircraft, contributed to the pilot's decision-making.