Cessna 152, G-BTGX, 23 March 2011
Cessna 152, G-BTGX
Summary:
The Student pilot was carrying out a landing at Shoreham as part of his qualifying cross-country. During the final approach, in benign weather conditions, the aircraft was slightly high so the pilot reduced power. He considered the flare to be normal but recalled a firm touchdown, which caused the aircraft to bounce. He attempted to correct the bounce but the aircraft impacted the ground heavily causing the nosewheel to collapse and the propeller to strike the runway. The pilot, who was wearing a lap and diagonal harness, escaped uninjured. The pilot reported that had he applied full power after the bounce and gone around, the accident could have been avoided and that his decision to continue the landing was down to inexperience. In his candid submission (included in this report for information purposes only), the pilot reported that, after the accident, he discovered that he had misinterpreted paperwork sent to him relating to his medical assessment and he was not actually in possession of a current medical certificate. Guidance material contained in LASORS (a CAA publication detailing essential licensing requirements) states that ‘A student pilot must hold a valid Medical Certificate or Medical Declaration (as appropriate to licence sought) before he will be permitted to fly solo.
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