Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot failed to flare. His diverted attention was a factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot had difficulty maintaining yaw control and failed to flare during his first solo landing on his first solo flight. The aircraft impacted the runway on the nose landing gear which collapsed.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 14, 1993, at 1532 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N5366M, operated by Galvin Flying Service, impacted terrain while landing at Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington. There was no flight plan filed for the local student training flight, conducted under 14 CFR 91 in visual meteorological conditions, that took off at 1525. The student pilot was not injured in the accident. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire. The student's instructor reported the student was on his first solo flight, intended for traffic pattern work to practice takeoff and landings. He said that on the first approach for landing, the student appeared to have difficulty in controlling aircraft yaw and failed to flare before touchdown. The aircraft impacted the runway on the nose landing gear, which collapsed, substantially damaging the aircraft. -