What happened
On 14 June 2024, a Cessna 172 SP, registration PK-APA, was conducting a solo training flight as part of a private pilot certification course near Banyuwangi Airport, Indonesia. The flight, operated by Akademi Penerbang Indonesia (API) Banyuwangi, involved various maneuvers including climbing and descending turns.
After completing the training exercises, the student pilot returned to the airport and joined the landing pattern for Runway 08. Upon approaching the threshold, the aircraft was in a nose-down attitude. During the touchdown, the pilot attempted a three-point landing, but the aircraft subsequently bounced four times. During each bounce, the nose wheel made contact with the runway first. The sequence of impacts caused the propeller blades to strike the runway and resulted in damage to the nose landing gear. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though there were no injuries reported.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight data from the aircraft's Garmin G1000 system and reviewed the student's training records. The investigation established that the student pilot had a history of performing late flare maneuvers during landings. Furthermore, while the academy's syllabus included bounce recovery training in later stages, there was no evidence that the student had completed these specific exercises prior to this flight.
Review of the academy's instructional materials revealed that while instructors were encouraged to use the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook—which provides clear guidance on stabilized approaches and the necessity of a go-around during severe bounces—the student-specific guidance handbook lacked written instructions regarding bounce recovery procedures.