What happened
On 2 May 2000, a Reims Cessna F152, registration G-BFFW, was performing solo training circuits at Perth Airport, near Scone. The weather conditions were favorable, characterized by good visibility and a 13-knot wind from 070°.
During the initial approach for a touch-and-go maneuver, the student pilot encountered difficulty keeping the aircraft on the runway centerline due to the crosswind component. While the subsequent three landings were completed without issue, difficulties resurfaced during the fifth circuit. To compensate for the wind, the pilot utilized a right-wing-down technique and an into-wind heading.
Upon touchdown, the right wheel made contact with the runway before the left. Although the pilot attempted to correct a slight leftward veer using right rudder and potentially right brake, the aircraft swung to the right more significantly than anticipated. This caused the aircraft to depart the paved surface of Runway 20. The aircraft traveled approximately 50 meters into a ploughed field, where the nose landing gear sank into the soft earth. This caused the propeller to strike the ground, resulting in an abrupt engine stoppage. The aircraft sustained damage to the engine frame, cowling, and nose landing gear, but the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the departure from the runway, focusing on the pilot's control inputs and the impact of the crosswind. The investigation reviewed the pilot's flight experience and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident.