Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his failure to execute a go-around. Contributing to the accident were: the student pilot's high, fast approach and his misjudgment of the flare during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot stated that while on final approach the airplane was high and the airspeed was fast. The airplane touched down, bounced, porpoised, and the nose gear collapsed.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 20, 1995, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172Q, registered to Sheltair Daytona Beach, Inc., was substantially damaged while landing at the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport, Ormond Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot was not injured. The flight originated about 1323 from the Daytona Beach Regional Airport, Daytona Beach, Florida. The pilot stated that the flight entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg, turned base then final. While on final approach the flight was high and the airspeed was fast. The airplane then touched down, bounced, began to porpoise, and landed hard collapsing the nose landing gear. -