Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was on a solo flight and had completed two touch-and-go landings. During the third landing approach, the airplane was too high, so he completed a go-around. During the next approach, the airplane bounced on the runway, porpoised, and the nose landing gear separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.