History of the Flight
On 18 August 2023, a Cadet Pilot (CP) was scheduled for a solo navigation flight from Malacca International Airport (WMKM) to Johor. The Flight Instructor (FI) initially hesitated to release the CP due to adverse weather but eventually signed the release after the CP stated the flight would wait for improvement. After the FI completed another sortie, the CP asked again but was refused as weather had not improved. When conditions seemed to clear, the CP departed. Immediately after takeoff, the CP found visibility poor and relied on instrument navigation using the Course Deviation Indicator (CDI), VOR, and GPS instead of visual flight rules (VFR).
On approach to Runway 21, the aircraft bounced several times upon touchdown. The nose landing gear (NLG) collapsed, causing the nose to drop and scrape the runway. The CP declared MAYDAY twice, then evacuated the aircraft after it came to rest slightly right of the runway centreline. The aircraft was later removed by the operator following AAIB approval.
Injuries
No injuries were reported among the sole occupant (the CP) or any other persons.
Damage to Aircraft
A visual inspection revealed scratches and bends on both propeller tips, a broken nose landing gear, damage to the aircraft belly skin, and a broken Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) antenna. No other objects were damaged.
Personnel Information
The 23-year-old female CP held a Student Pilot License (SPL No. 14693) valid until 31 December 2023. She had accumulated 33:30 total flying hours, all on type. Her last medical examination was 24 December 2022, and she had at least 24 hours of rest before the flight. The investigation found that the CP was dealing with personal issues and conflicts, which caused distraction, anxiety, and panic attacks, degrading her decision-making and performance.
Causes/Contributing Factors
The investigation identified two causes/contributing factors: (1) The CP's decision to proceed with the flight despite unfavourable weather and personal issues that caused distraction, anxiety, and panic attacks, degrading decision-making ability and performance. (2) The CP's failure to execute a proper landing technique, resulting in bounced landings and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear.