At about 1500 Pacific time, the airplane experienced a hard landing and sustained substantial damage during a post-crash fire. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After making six successful touch-and-go landings, the student noticed the winds were increasing. During the seventh approach, winds were variable and started to gust. While maintaining 55 knots over the approach end of the runway, the airplane suddenly drifted to the left. The student used ailerons and corrected to the centerline, but the airplane touched down hard and bounced. After the airplane came to rest, he saw smoke and fire, and evacuated the airplane.
April 1, 2008, El Cajon, Calif., Cessna 152
At about 1500 Pacific time, the airplane experienced a hard landing and sustained substantial damage during a post-crash fire. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After making six successful touch-and-go landings, the student noticed the winds were increasing. During the seventh approach, winds were variable and started to gust. While maintaining 55 knots over the approach end of the runway, the airplane suddenly drifted to the left. The student used ailerons and corrected to the centerline, but the airplane touched down hard and bounced. After the airplane came to rest, he saw smoke and fire, and evacuated the airplane.
Key Takeaways:
- A solo student pilot experienced a hard landing resulting in substantial damage and a post-crash fire, though the pilot was uninjured.
- The incident occurred during a seventh touch-and-go attempt, primarily due to increasing, variable, and gusting winds.
- Strong winds caused the aircraft to drift left on final approach, leading to a hard bounce on touchdown and subsequent fire after the plane came to rest.
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