Pilot did not adhere to landing procedure: DGCA on training aircraft veering off runway at Kalaburagi airport

The Kalaburagi airport. | Photo Credit: File photo A probe report investigating the runway excursion incident involving a flying training academy aircraft at Kalaburagi airport in November 2025 has revealed that the trainee pilot flying a solo sortie did not adhere with the landing procedure and kept the engine on a hi-power state.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) investigation has said that due to this, the aircraft bounced, moved rapidly and veered off from the runway, resulting in the runway excursion.The aircraft was a Diamond DA-40D belonging to Asia Pacific Flying Training Academy Limited. The 20-year-old female trainee pilot held a student pilot licence and was authorised by the instructor to carry out the solo circuit and landing sortie.The findings of the report said that the trainee pilot felt the bounce and initiated a go-around in the first and second circuit and landing sorties, on Runway 09 (RWY 09), following which the instructor coordinated with the ATC for change of runway from RWY 09 to RWY 27.

The report said that this information about change in runway was passed on to the trainee pilot through radiotelephony.“During the landing course of the third circuit and landing sortie, the trainee pilot again felt the bounce. At that instant, the instructor called out to idle the power.

However, the trainee pilot did not bring the engine to idle state, due to which the aircraft moved rapidly and veered off from the RWY 27, before eventually collapsing on the unpaved area,” the findings state.The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose landing gear, its fairings and propeller tips. No injury was sustained by the trainee pilot and there was no fire following the incident.The probe also revealed that the Certificate of Airworthiness and the Certificate of Registration of the aircraft was valid on the date of incident and the Airworthiness Directive, Service Bulletins, DGCA Mandatory Modifications on this aircraft and its engines were found to be complied with.The trainee pilot had also undergone pre- and post-flight medical examination for alcohol and tested negative both times.With regard to safety recommendations, the report suggested corrective training for the student pilot.