Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was executing the second leg of her first solo cross-country instructional flight. The approach to the runway was normal; however, the airplane bounced during landing and before the pilot was able to react the airplane bounced again. The airplane then slid off the runway and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing and firewall. The pilot lost consciousness during the accident and her memory of the event was limited. She could not recall whether the airplane experienced any preimpact failures or malfunctions during landing. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any airworthiness issues with either the airframe or engine that would have affected the handling characteristics or performance of the airplane. Winds about the time of the accident were 7 knots with no gusts.
Source record
Factual narrative
The student pilot of the Cessna 152 was executing the second leg of her first solo cross country instructional flight. The approach to the runway was normal; however the airplane bounced during landing and before the pilot was able to react the airplane bounced again. The airplane then slid off the runway and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing, and firewall. The pilot lost consciousness during the accident and her memory of the event was limited. She could not recall whether the airplane experienced any preimpact failures or malfunctions during landing. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any airworthiness issues with either the airframe or engine that could have effected the handling characteristics or performance of the airplane. Winds about the time of the accident were 7 knots with no gusts.