Cessna 152
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 780; Flight Crew Type 300
Workload; Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure; Human Factors
Student pilot conducting solo operations on left pattern on Runway 17L; on 5th touch-and-go; student pilot went lost comm. Student then proceeded to make missed approaches. After the 4th missed approach; emergency trucks were dispatched to Runway 17L. On 5th approach; student switched to Runway 17R; cutting off a MD-80 that was on final approach. MD-80 conducted a go-around; and student conducted go around operation. Student made right traffic and made a normal landing on Runway 17R. Once on the ground; student claimed that he was unable to see the tower lights from Runway 17L; therefore he switched to Runway 17R to attempt to see lights better. Radio was found to be inoperative when student landed the aircraft.  I think several contributing factors exacerbated the events. The extremely bright sun reflecting off of the pavement could have rendered the tower lights [difficult to see] from left pattern on Runway 17L. Previously; other pilots have reported difficulty in seeing tower lights during daylight operations; including one instructor who asked Tower to demo the light for the student. Additionally; the decision to continue the approach with the MD-80 after the emergency was declared by Tower for the student caused unsafe conditions. The student was maneuvering to the extent necessary to meet the emergency and the airspace was not cleared for him. Tower had cleared the MD-80 to land with a precaution that a student was lost comm in the left pattern on the parallel runway. Human performance considerations could include; but may not be limited to: heat from the day; bright light from daytime operating conditions; Tower needs to continue operations despite student emergency; and inability to see tower lights to effectively communicate with lost comm aircraft.
A student pilot became NORDO in an airport traffic pattern and apparently could not see the Tower's light signal so after five missed approaches; one including an MD80 near miss; he finally landed.