The accident happened during the student pilot’s first solo flight at the airport in Ankeny, Iowa. The first landing was good, but on the second approach the airplane touched down flat and bounced several times.
The post-flight inspection of the airplane revealed that one propeller blade tip was bent aft and the firewall was buckled. The student pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the student pilot’s improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB Identification: CEN13CA289
This May 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
