Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the final approach resulting in a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot reported he was conducting a solo traffic pattern flight and was on final approach for landing from his first traffic pattern when he lost control of the airplane at 50 ft, rounded out and impacted the runway on the nose wheel. The airplane subsequently bounced and impacted the runway again collapsing the nose wheel and allowing the left wing to impact in the grass next to the runway. The airplane then skidded off the left side of the runway and came to rest in the grassy area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the top inboard left wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor pilot reported that he and the student pilot had completed four successful landings prior to the instructor getting out of the airplane for the student pilot’s solo traffic pattern flight. He reported that the student pilot’s approach was stable, but upon landing the airplane seemed to be out of control.