Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudged flare and subsequent hard landing, and her inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was landing at the conclusion of a cross-country solo flight. During the landing flare/touchdown, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airspeed dissipated, and the airplane touched down again and bounced several times. The nose wheel landing gear strut and wheel separated from the fuselage, and the propeller struck the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
The student pilot was landing at the conclusion of a cross-country solo flight. During the landing flare/touchdown, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The airspeed dissipated, and the airplane touched down again and bounced several times. The nose wheel landing gear strut and wheel separated from the fuselage, and the propeller struck the runway.