Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors were the improper flare and the resultant loss of directional control.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was doing stop-and-go solo practice landings. During his third landing he bounced into the air and came back to the ground. He experienced nose wheel 'shimmy', applied rudder pressure, and stepped on his right brake unintentionally. The aircraft veered off the runway and nosed over to the inverted position.
Source record
Factual narrative
On December 11, 1994, at 1110 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N24350, was substantially damaged during landing at the Downtown Airpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The student pilot was on a local solo instructional flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was not injured. This paragraph is based on the enclosed pilot report. The student pilot was executing his third solo landing when he touched down "flat" and bounced the airplane. As he touched down again the nose wheel began to "shimmy" and he applied rudder pressure. "Apparently," he also stepped on the right brake. The airplane veered right, rolling off of the runway where it impacted a small dirt mound. The airplane subsequently nosed over into the inverted position. -