What happened
On September 13, 2011, a student pilot was conducting a solo training flight at Buttwil Airport using a Reims Aviation F152, registration HB-CFW. The flight mission involved practicing circuits and power-idle approaches. After completing several successful landings, the pilot attempted a touch-and-go maneuver. However, during this final sequence, the aircraft touched down late on the short grass runway, likely due to a tailwind component.
While attempting to transition from the landing to a takeoff roll, the pilot decided to abort the maneuver at the hangar end of the runway. During the heavy braking process, the aircraft drifted to the left. The pilot attempted to compensate by applying more pressure to the right brake, but the wheels likely locked on the grass surface, causing the aircraft to slide. The Reims Aviation F1-52 eventually veered off the runway and struck a tree with its left wingtip. The impact caused the aircraft to pivot sharply and come to rest on its nose gear, right wingtip, and propeller. The pilot escaped the wreckage without injury.
The investigation
SUST examined the flight history, meteorological conditions, and the pilot's training status. The investigation established that the student pilot had very limited solo experience, having performed only ten solo landings in total, with only one solo flight occurring in the preceding eleven months. The investigation also reviewed the instructor's role, noting that while the instructor had monitored the initial landings, they had ceased direct visual supervision during the subsequent maneuvers.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control following the interruption of a touch-and-go maneuver, which led to the collision with an obstacle.
- The flight assignment, which included complex power-idle approaches, was inappropriate for the student's current level of training.
- There was insufficient briefing regarding the specific challenges of the flight plan.
- The flight instructor provided inadequate supervision of the solo training flight by losing visual contact with the aircraft.
- The pilot did not sufficiently account for weather conditions, specifically the presence of a tailwind component that contributed to the late touchdown.