Primary finding
Probable cause
An improper flare during landing. Contributing to the accident was a porpoise induced oscillation.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was on his second solo flight when the airplane bounced during a hard landing on runway 15. The airplane bounced three times with each bounce harder than the previous bounce. After the third bounce the airplane landed nose gear first, the propeller struck the runway, and the nose gear collapsed. There was substantial damage to the forward firewall. The instructor pilot witnessed the accident and reported the winds as light and variable.
Source record
Factual narrative
The 44 hour student pilot was on his second solo flight when the airplane bounced during a hard landing on runway 15. The airplane bounced three times with each bounce harder than the previous bounce. After the third bounce the airplane landed nose gear first, the propeller struck the runway, and the nose gear collapsed. There was substantial damage to the forward firewall, but no injuries to the solo pilot. The instructor pilot witnessed the accident and reported the winds as light and variable.