What happened
On August 9, 1968, a student pilot was conducting a solo training flight at the Colombier airfield under the direct supervision of an instructor. The flight was part of a training program intended to secure a flight extension. Following an initial successful landing, the pilot attempted a second landing after a touch-and-go maneuver.
The instructor observed that the approach speed was excessively high, estimated between 73 and 80 mph. During the first attempt of this sequence, the aircraft touched down on all three wheels simultaneously and bounced. The pilot applied full power at an altitude of approximately two meters to attempt a new approach. On the subsequent attempt, the aircraft hit the runway nose-first. The aircraft bounced to a height of roughly 8 to 10 meters in a nose-high attitude. The pilot failed to apply corrective elevator or power inputs, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and strike the ground heavily. The impact caused the nose gear to break, leading to propeller damage and significant structural harm to the airframe.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight logs of the student pilot, the maintenance records of the Beech A 23-19 Musketeer Sport III, and the testimony of the flight instructor. The aircraft, registration HB-ENO, had undergone a 100-hour inspection just one day prior to the accident and was found to be in good airworthiness condition. Investigators also reviewed the pilot's training history, noting that while the pilot had completed 137 landings, the training sessions had been inconsistent and interrupted by seasonal breaks.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of airspeed following a bounce during landing.
- The pilot's failure to react to the aircraft's nose-high attitude after the bounce was attributed to an inconsistent training pattern, characterized by fragmented and short flight sessions.
- Although the pilot suggested that thermal updrafts may have interfered with the descent, investigators concluded the pilot likely maintained an excessive speed and aimed for the start of the runway to force a descent.
- The impact resulted in 30% damage to the aircraft, including a deformed fuselage longeron, a broken engine mount, and an irreparable propeller.
Safety action
No specific safety recommendations were recorded in the final report, though the investigation highlighted the risks associated with irregular training intervals and the lack of student responsiveness during critical flight phases.