What happened
On 8 February 2003, a Reims Cessna F150L, registration G-GBLR, was performing circuit training at Coventry Airport. The flight, consisting of an instructor and a student, was operating under favorable weather conditions with good visibility and a 9-knot wind.
After an initial approach resulted in a go-around, the crew attempted a second approach using full flaps. During this phase, the airspeed decreased excessively. Despite multiple prompts from the instructor to correct the low speed, the aircraft remained unstable. As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, the student pilot applied significant rudder input to manage the crosswind. This maneuver caused one wing to drop and strike the runway surface. As the instructor took control to recover the aircraft, the opposite wingtip also made contact with the ground before the flight was stabilized.
The aerodrome controller observed the erratic maneuvering and the subsequent wing drop, prompting an immediate activation of the crash alarm. The aerodrome fire service met the aircraft on a taxiway, though a post-incident inspection allowed the aircraft to taxi to its parking area.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight sequence and the actions of the crew during the approach. The investigation focused on the airspeed decay and the specific control inputs made by the student pilot near the runway threshold. The assessment included the aircraft's mechanical condition and the impact of the wind conditions on the landing maneuver.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to both wingtips, two ribs, and the tailplane.
- There were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
- The primary cause of the incident was excessive airspeed decay during the final approach.
- A large rudder input by the student pilot, intended to compensate for crosswind, contributed to the wing drop.