What happened
On May 22, 2025, at 05:30 UTC, a Diamond DA20 (registration TC-MVM) operated by UTEK Uzay Havacılık Teknoloji Eğitim Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. was involved in a serious incident during landing at Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (LTFD). The aircraft was performing a solo navigation training flight from Bursa Yenişehir Airport (LTBR).
During the approach to runway 05, the student pilot initially performed a go-around due to a high approach. On the subsequent attempt, the aircraft descended with excessive speed and a high sink rate. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a "pogo" effect (a series of bounces), which caused the propeller tips to strike the ground and resulted in damage to the nose landing gear. There were no fatalities or injuries.
The investigation
The UEİM investigation examined the flight logs, maintenance records, and meteorological conditions. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's maintenance was up to date, with all recent inspections and service bulletins completed. Weight and balance calculations were verified as being within limits, and the fuel load was sufficient for the flight. Meteorological reports indicated CAVOK conditions, meaning weather was not a contributing factor. The investigation also noted that while flight data was retrieved from the Garmin GDU 620 unit, no data was available on the analyzed SD card.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was human factors, specifically the student pilot's failure to properly manage the aircraft's energy during the final approach, leading to a high-speed, high-sink rate descent.
- The pilot's delay in initiating the flare contributed to the hard landing and subsequent bouncing.
- The aircraft sustained light damage, specifically to the propeller tips and the nose landing gear.
Safety action
- The operator was advised to provide specific training to students on recovery procedures during "pogo" or bouncing events.
- The operator should ensure all Garmin SD cards are checked and corrective actions are taken to ensure flight data can be successfully uploaded for analysis.
- It is recommended that the findings of this report be shared with all flight personnel and students.