Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was on a solo training flight. The student flew in the local practice area and then returned to the departure airport for touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The student completed one landing uneventfully. On the second landing, as the student flared, the airplane ballooned to approximately 20 feet above ground level. The airplane dropped hard and the nose and right wing impacted the runway, followed by the left wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the wing spar sustained substantial damage. The student reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The student pilot was on a solo training flight. The student and a certified flight instructor reviewed weather and additional flight information prior to the flight. The student flew in the local area and then returned to the departure airport for touch and go takeoffs and landings. The student completed one landing uneventfully. On the second landing, the airplane drifted across the runway and it climbed approximately 20 feet above ground level during the initiation of the flare. The airplane dropped and the nose and right wing impacted the runway, followed by the left wing impacting the pavement. A post accident examination revealed that the wing spar was damaged. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.