Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the touch and go landing. Factors were the crosswind conditions, and the hidden obstruction (rock) in the grass adjacent to the runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was on his second supervised solo flight. During the final approach for a touch and go landing, he observed crosswinds which pushed the aircraft to the right of the runway centerline. During the flare, the aircraft was still to the right of the planned touchdown point, so he corrected with left aileron. The aircraft proceeded to the left of the touchdown point, so he executed a go-around. He turned to the right to avoid some trees, and the right wing contacted the ground. The aircraft settled to the ground, where the nose gear collided with a large, hidden rock, and the aircraft nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 19, 1993, at about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N4794B, nosed over following a loss of control during landing in Greensboro, North Carolina. The student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Flight Services Unlimited of Brown Summit, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, solo-instructional flight. The flight originated at the Air Harbor Airport at about 1420. According to the student's flight instructor, who witnessed the accident, the student was attempting to land during his second supervised solo flight. The instructor observed the right wing contact the ground at the same time that he heard the engine power increase. The aircraft then veered to the left, and flipped over on its back. The student pilot reported the following: During the final approach for landing (runway 9), he experienced headwind and crosswind which forced the aircraft to the right of the runway center line. During the flare, the crosswind continued to push the aircraft to the right of the planned touchdown point. He corrected for the wind by turning the aircraft to the left with aileron control. The aircraft proceeded to the left of the centerline, and a go-around was attempted. He turned to the right to avoid trees located to the left of the runway. The right wing tip contacted the ground, and the aircraft settled. The nose gear contacted a large rock, and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction of failure with the aircraft prior to the accident. An examination of the landing area revealed that there was a large rock, hidden by tall grass, under the nose tire track of the aircraft. -