What happened
On December 6, 2020, a Pipstrel Alpha Trainer, registration LV-S034, was conducting a local training flight at La Cumbre Aerodrome in Córdoba, Argentina. After 50 minutes of flight in visual meteorological conditions, the aircraft attempted to land on runway 32. During the final approach, the pilot was flying at approximately 60 knots with flaps configured. The aircraft crossed the runway threshold at an altitude higher than usual for a standard approach.
During the landing flare, the aircraft experienced an abnormal contact with the runway. The aircraft bounced twice; on the second contact, the nose pitched down sharply. The propeller struck the ground 668 meters from the runway threshold, which caused the nose gear to collapse. The aircraft slid 12 meters across the terrain before capsizing and coming to rest in an inverted position. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's flight path, the pilot's recent flight experience, and the physical evidence left on the runway. Investigators noted that the pilot's recent flying activity had been significantly restricted due to pandemic-related social distancing measures, with the pilot having flown only one hour in the 30 days prior to the accident.
Analysis of the ground marks and aircraft damage indicated a sequence of aerodynamic phenomena. The investigation focused on the transition from a high-speed float to a sudden loss of lift, and the subsequent impact of the nose gear.