Incident Overview
On Monday, August 15, 2011, at 17:33 local time, a Cessna 152 registered as F-GGCS was substantially damaged when its nose gear collapsed during landing at Toussus-Le-Noble aerodrome (Yvelines department, France). The aircraft was operated by a flying club and was on a local flight with a pilot and a passenger on board.
Flight Sequence
The pilot, seated in the right seat, was at the controls at departure. During the flight, he relinquished control to the passenger, who had already completed several previous flights. The pilot later stated that he had configured the aircraft for landing and the approach was stable, though likely out of trim. At approximately 200 feet above ground, the pilot turned toward the passenger to give instructions. When he redirected his attention to the approach, he did not have sufficient time to retake control and flare before the nose wheel struck the runway.
Damage and Conclusion
The nose gear separated on impact with the runway. The aircraft then slid for about 50 meters before coming to a stop. The airframe was heavily damaged. The pilot also noted that personal issues had prevented him from fully focusing on the flight.
The investigation concluded that the accident resulted from the pilot's lack of attention during the final approach and landing.