What happened
On December 1, 2018, a Piper PA-18 Super Cub, registration HB-PRS, was engaged in a tailwheel difference training flight. The flight began at Lausanne-La Blécherette (LSGL) with both a pilot and an instructor on board, proceeding to Ecuvill and performing three training circuits on runway 27. Following a brief pause, the instructor disembarked, leaving the trainee pilot to continue the session alone.
While performing two solo circuits, the pilot lost control of the aircraft during the second landing. As the aircraft slowed down at the end of the landing roll, it began to pivot to the left, completing a 180-degree turn. During this maneuver, the tip of the right wing struck the runway pavement before the aircraft came to a stop in the grass strip separating the runway from the taxiway. The incident resulted in one person slightly injured and caused light damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the solo landing phase and the physical movement of the aircraft on the ground. Investigators examined the flight parameters, noting that the loss of control occurred at low speed during the exit from the runway. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's trajectory involved a significant rotation that led to wing-to-ground contact.