Accident Overview
On 2 May 2000, at 1545 hours UTC, a Reims Cessna F152 (registration G-BFFW) operated by a student pilot departed the paved surface during a solo training flight at Perth Airport, near Scone, Perthshire. The aircraft came to rest in a ploughed field approximately 50 metres from the runway edge. The nose landing gear sank into the soft ground, causing the propeller to contact the earth and abruptly stop the engine. The pilot completed the shutdown checks and vacated the aircraft without injury.
Flight History
The student pilot, aged 35 with a total of 61 flying hours (33 on type and 8 hours in the preceding 90 days), was performing solo circuits on asphalt Runway 22. Weather conditions were fine with good visibility and a surface wind of 070° at 13 knots, presenting a crosswind component. During the first approach for a touch-and-go landing, the pilot experienced difficulty maintaining the runway centreline due to the crosswind. However, the subsequent three landings were reported as uneventful.
Sequence of Events
On the fifth circuit, the pilot corrected for the crosswind using a combination of an into-wind heading and right wing down. During the landing, the right wheel contacted the runway first, followed by the left. The aircraft then veered slightly to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and possibly right brake to correct. In response, the aircraft veered to the right more than expected, departed the hard surface, and came to rest in a ploughed field.
Damage Assessment
The aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear, engine frame, and cowling. The propeller struck the ground when the nose gear sank into the soft field, bringing the engine to an abrupt stop. No other damage was reported.