Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain direction control which resulted in an inflight collision with trees. Factors were the student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his inexperience.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was on his first solo flight. The airplane touched down with excessive speed, landed hard on the main gear, became airborne and hit a second time. After the second touchdown, the airplane bounced and while still airborne the pilot applied power to the engine. The airplane started to climb, but drifted to the left of the runway, and the left wing struck a tree.
Source record
Factual narrative
On Saturday, December 4, 1993, at about 0955 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N5325P, piloted by Mr. Edward A. Acito, collided with trees during a go around at Sky Acres Airport, Lagrangeville, New York. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, after turning to final approach he realized he was high and in an attempt to touch down at the desired point on the runway he increased the speed of the airplane. The pilot said, "...while performing [the] flare,[the airplane] ballooned due to excessive air speed..." The student pilot's instructor [CFI] witnessed the accident, and according to the CFI, the student pilot was on his first solo flight, the airplane touched down with excessive speed; landed hard on the main gear; became airborne and hit a second time. After the second touchdown, the airplane bounced and while still airborne the pilot applied power to the engine. The airplane started to climb, but drifted to the left of the runway and the left wing struck a tree. -