Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's decision to land with a quartering tailwind and his improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While on a solo cross-country flight, the student pilot attempted to land with a right quartering tailwind. Unable to land during the first two attempts, the pilot elected to go around the pattern for a third attempt. During the landing flare the airplane’s nosewheel impacted the runway first and the airplane began to bounce. Shortly thereafter, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright and in a nose-low position. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane’s flight controls were reported. An examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall sustained structural damage during the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
While on a solo cross country flight, the student pilot attempted to land with a right quartering tailwind. Unable to land during the first two attempts the pilot elected to go around the pattern for a third attempt. During the landing flare the airplane’s nose wheel impacted the runway first and the airplane began to bounce. Shortly thereafter, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright and in a nose low position. No mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane’s flight controls were reported. An examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall sustained structural damage during the accident.