Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and nose landing gear collapse.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The solo student pilot reported that, during his second landing, the airplane ballooned and landed hard on the runway. As a result, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.