Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare, the resultant porpoise and an inadequate recovery from the bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The solo student pilot performed a series of touch and goes. During the final landing flare/touchdown the airplane ballooned and then touched down on the runway. The nose tire blew out and the airplane departed the right side of the runway, hit a ditch, and came to rest nose down.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 29, 1994, at 1030 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N52521, was substantially damaged during landing near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. The pilot reported performing a series of takeoffs and landings on runway 17 at Colorado Springs Airport. During the final landing, the airplane "ballooned" after touching down on the main landing gear. The airplane touched down again on "all three wheels simultaneously." The nose tire blew, the aircraft departed the right side of the runway and hit a small ditch before coming to rest nose down. Damage occurred to the firewall and lower fuselage area aft of the firewall. -