Incident Overview
On 2 September 2019, a Cessna 152 (registration LV-AMI) operated by Flight Center, a Type III Civil Aviation Instruction Center (CIAC) based at Morón Airport, was involved in a runway excursion during a solo training flight. The aircraft, owned by Entrada S.A., departed from Morón Airport at 14:48 UTC for a local training flight. After approximately 35 minutes, during landing on runway 02, the aircraft made an abnormal touchdown followed by a runway excursion.
Flight and Pilot Details
The flight was conducted by a student pilot who had taken the theoretical examination for a private pilot license (PPA) earlier that day. The solo flight was authorized in accordance with Argentine Civil Aviation Regulations (RAAC) Part 61.87. At the time of the incident, Flight Center had 15 aircraft and 62 instructors assigned.
Sequence of Events
According to the investigation, the approach was normal. The initial touchdown occurred with the left main landing gear, after which the aircraft became airborne again. The pilot then leveled the wings, and the right main landing gear touched down, leading to two bounces on the runway surface. This resulted in a loss of directional control, and the aircraft veered off the runway to the right. The aircraft came to a stop approximately 80 meters from the runway centerline on the strip. The investigation found no anomalies in the aircraft's systems or controls.
Investigation Findings
Analysis of the incident indicated that the bounces were likely related to crosswind conditions during the final approach. The investigation noted that after the initial touchdown, the aircraft bounced twice, and the pilot did not execute a go-around or recovery maneuver. The incident was categorized as an abnormal runway contact (ARC). The conclusions identified the two bounces and the absence of a go-around as factors contributing to the runway excursion. The solo flight authorization was found to be in compliance with regulations.