LNDG ACCIDENT; HITS RWY LIGHTS.

Narrative

THIS INCIDENT INVOLVES A STUDENT OF MINE WHO HAS APPROX 30 HRS OF PART 141 TRAINING. I SIGNED HIM OFF FOR HIS FIRST SOLO XCOUNTRY FLT. ON HIS RETURN TO THE BIL LOGAN ARPT HE HAD A BAD LNDG RESULTING IN VERY MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE NOSE COWLING OF THE C152 AND THE ARPT LOSING 2-3 RWY LIGHTS. I WAS NOT AT THE ARPT WHEN THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE; BUT FROM ANOTHER WITNESS'S ACCOUNT AND SPEAKING WITH THE STUDENT; I BELIEVE I HAVE PIECED TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED. THE WIND WAS 190 DEGS AT 8-12 KTS AS HE MADE AN APCH TO RWY 25. HE SAID HE RECOGNIZED THAT HE HAD A BIT OF A XWIND AND AT ABOUT 20 FT AGL; PUT THE AIRPLANE IN A SLIP TO COMPENSATE. AT THIS TIME; HE ALSO HEARD THE STALL WARNING HORN AND ADDED SOME PWR. THIS IS WHEN HE DRIFTED ENOUGH TO STRIKE 2-3 RWY LIGHTS. THE CAUSE OF THE PROB WAS TWOFOLD. FIRST; HE SHOULD HAVE REACTED TO THE SLOW AIRSPD AND UNSTABLE SHORT FINAL WITH A GAR. THE OTHER PROB WAS THE RWY TO WHICH HE WAS MAKING HIS APCH. HE WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE DEP THAT HE WAS TO USE RWYS MOST IN LINE WITH THE WIND. GIVEN THE WIND WAS 190 DEGS AND THAT THE BIL ARPT HAS A RWY 16; THIS WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM AN EASIER APCH AND LNDG. AS AN INSTRUCTOR; IT HAS HELPED ME TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPHASIZING THE USE OF GARS AND THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF TRYING TO FORCE A LNDG FROM A BAD APCH. I BELIEVE IN DRILLING XWIND APCHS AND LNDGS. YET; GIVEN THE DIFFICULTIES STUDENT PLTS HAVE WITH XWINDS; A GAR AND/OR CHOOSING CORRECT RWYS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE WIND SHOULD BE PRACTICED REGULARLY AS WELL.