Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, aerodynamic stall, and impact with the runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight. He reported that during the first landing attempt he flared the airplane too early, which resulted in a bounced landing. He pitched the nose down and the airplane bounced into the air again, then the pitched the nose up. The airplane stalled and impacted the runway in a nose low attitude, which resulted in the nose landing gear collapse and substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.