Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's fatigue from improper rest the evening before the flight.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot reported that the aircraft bounced as she landed on the runway. She elected to attempt to maneuver the aircraft on the ground rather than attempt a go-around. As she maneuvered the flight controls, she subsequently lost control of the airplane. The airplane ended up nosed over with damage to the right wing. According to the CFI, the student pilot reported that she had not slept well the night before the flight and attributed her poor performance to being under stress due to an imminent departure on vacation.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 12, 1997, at 0830 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N757CS, landed hard, bounced, and subsequently nosed over at the San Manuel, Arizona, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was operated as an instructional solo cross-country flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated at La Cholla Airport at 0805. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed. According to his report, the operator of the aircraft stated that the student pilot was flying the first leg of a planned solo cross-country flight. As the pilot landed on runway 11, the aircraft bounced. According to the operator, as the student pilot attempted to recover the landing, subsequent control inputs aggravated the problem and the pilot lost control of the airplane. The pilot attributed the "failure to go around and inappropriate control inputs to fatigue and stress." During a telephone interview, the student's flight instructor stated that in the past, the student pilot had either canceled or cut short flights because she had not felt well. The CFI stated that she found out after the fact that the student pilot had not rested well the night before the flight. She attributed her stress level to leaving on vacation 2 days after this flight. The CFI stated that the pilot had been briefed about personal limitations, as well as aircraft limitations. -