Primary finding
Probable cause
the student pilot's improper level-off during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During landing, on his first solo flight, the student allowed the aircraft to porpoise. The final touchdown was on the nose wheel which collapsed.
Source record
Factual narrative
On January 21, 1996, at 1415 central standard time, a Cessna 172N, N76067, landed hard at Max Westheimer Airport, Norman, Oklahoma. The student solo pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this instructional flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated at 1330. According to the Chief Pilot, this was the student's first solo flight and he became confused in the pattern and set up for landing on runway 21 rather than runway 17 which had been assigned by ATC. When this problem was corrected, according to the chief pilot, the student's approach was fast and the aircraft bounced on landing. A porpoise ensued and the final touch down was on the nose wheel which collapsed resulting in damage to the propeller, firewall and engine mounts in addition to the nose wheel damage. -