What happened
On September 3, 2020, a student pilot was performing his first solo flight in a Cessna 172 R, registration HB-TEA, at Ecuvillable, Switzerland. Prior to the incident, the student had completed several dual instruction flights with his instructor on the same day. After a brief break, the instructor permitted the student to attempt the solo circuit, moving to the reporting office to monitor the maneuvers via radio.
During the landing phase, the aircraft experienced a slight bounce due to a low attitude during the flare. Upon the second contact with the runway, the aircraft began to veer toward the left. Although the instructor attempted to provide guidance over the aerodrome frequency, the student pilot failed to apply sufficient rudder input to correct the path. Consequently, the aircraft exited the left side of the runway, where the right landing gear struck and destroyed a runway edge light, damaging the aircraft's landing gear fairing in the process. The aircraft continued onto the grass before coming to a stop approximately 500 meters from the runway threshold.
The investigation
The investigation, delegated by the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board to the BEA, examined the flight data, meteorological conditions, and the backgrounds of both the pilot and the instructor. Data retrieved from the aircraft's FLARM system showed that the approach speed and flight path were stable and consistent with recommended manual speeds, indicating no deviations during the approach itself.
Investigators also reviewed the student pilot's training records, noting that while he had logged 39 hours of dual flight, his training progress had been inconsistent due to external commitments. The instructor, a highly experienced pilot with over 4,400 flight hours, admitted to having reservations about the student's readiness but had authorized the solo flight in an attempt to boost the student's motivation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the insufficient rudder input by the student pilot to correct a leftward veer following a landing bounce.
- The instructor's decision to authorize the first solo flight was influenced by a desire to motivate the student, despite personal doubts regarding the student's current level of focus and readiness.
- Radio instructions from the instructor may have been ineffective due to the high-workload, dynamic nature of the landing situation.