The student pilot was attempting to land at the airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after his first solo flight.
He thought his airspeed was high. The Cessna 152 landed hard and bounced three times, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear.
The nose of the airplane and the left wing hit the runway.
A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing spar, firewall and engine mount sustained substantial damage.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s improper landing technique, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose landing gear collapse.
NTSB Identification: CEN15CA121
This January 2015 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.
Am not a pilot but I think instructors before takes fry should be very sure about students who about to landing
The whole idea is to be able to use the plane again. My 1st solo was with a CPT instructor (AG pilot too) at a grass field in my Champ. The next was in a rented C-150 with a former Navy pilot in .6 hr. I needed a radio to take the check ride later. He told me to have fun and not use the flaps. He said slip it like you do in the Champ. I was always told if you bounce just hall back on the wheel/stick and hold what you got, it will quit eventually. I never pranged one ever. I soloed 6 aircraft before I got my private ticket. I even checked out the Navy pilot instructor in my Champ before he purchased a Citabria later on. Just because yuo touched down doesn’t mean you done flying.
I remember my first solo – scared but exillerated, and successful. One memory that stands out is how incredibly light the Cessna 150 was after the instructor got out. Perhaps that had an effect on the student’s speed control during the landing phase.
I wish there was more information about this incident. Nothing on NTSB site concerning weather or student pilot’s performance prior to rough landing. So my speculation turns to the IP may not have wanted to release the pilot for the solo.
I look at these reports to make sure I’m teaching my students as much as possible so they are ready for the first time exposure when they fly solo.
No instructor can train for low-time panic and over-reaction. Some people demonstrate competency with the instructor present then fall apart when alone.
One year of college tuition per bounce, I guess.