Incident Details
On 3 September 2020, at 09:26 local time, a Cessna 172 R, registered HB-TEA, operated by Air-Fribourg Services SA, veered off the runway during a solo instruction flight at Ecuvillens, Switzerland. The aircraft sustained slight damage, and a runway edge light was destroyed. The student-pilot was the sole occupant.
Flight History
Prior to the incident, the student-pilot completed three runway circuits with the instructor, followed by a 15-minute debriefing. A second dual flight was conducted, after which the instructor allowed the student-pilot to perform a first solo flight. The instructor then went to the reporting office to observe. The runway circuit was normal until the flare, when the aircraft touched down with a low attitude and bounced. On the second contact, the aircraft veered left. The student-pilot attempted to correct with the pedals, but insufficient input was applied. The aircraft exited the runway to the left, striking a runway edge light with the right landing gear. The student-pilot then steered back toward the runway, stopping about 500 meters from the threshold of runway 27.
Pilot Information
The student-pilot, aged 53, began training for a Private Pilot Licence in June 2019 at Air-Fribourg Services SA. He had logged 39 hours in dual flight (all in the Cessna 172 R) and 247 landings. His training was interrupted by periods without flying; in the three months before the incident, he had logged 20 flight hours. He stated he felt confident for his first solo flight but was surprised by the lighter feel without the instructor.
The instructor, aged 64, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence and had 4,486 total flight hours, with 2,576 as an instructor. He was the student-pilot's sole instructor. He noted the student-pilot's slow progress due to lack of availability and expressed hesitation about authorizing the solo flight, hoping it would improve motivation.
Additional Information
Meteorological conditions were calm, with wind recorded as calm at a nearby station between 08:00 and 10:00. The aircraft was equipped with a FLARM system; data showed no deviation in the final approach compared to previous dual flights, and approach speed was stable and within the flight manual recommendations. The runway measured 800 by 23 meters, with a landing distance available of 800 meters on runway 27.
Conclusions
The investigation concluded that during the landing, a bounce due to inadequate flare management caused the aircraft to veer left. The student-pilot's pedal correction was insufficient, leading to the runway excursion.