The student pilot and flight instructor initially flew together on the day of the accident with the intention of practicing pattern work and landings at the airport in Stoneville, North Carolina, with the possibility of the student pilot performing her first solo flight given that the conditions were favorable.
She performed three circuits of the traffic pattern with the instructor in the Cessna 172 without incident. The flight instructor told investigators that the student’s landings were “good” and her patterns were consistent. The windsocks at the approach end of the runway were limp, indicating low wind. After the third landing, the flight instructor endorsed the student for solo flight and her first solo landing was uneventful.
When she was coming in for her second solo landing, she heard other pilots calling in over the radio saying they were on final approach to land and she wanted to get out of the way as soon as possible.
Also, during her landing, the precision approach path indicator was not on and she had difficulty with her depth perception. She realized that she was too high and fast coming in on short final.
The airplane hit the runway and porpoised four times. She was unable to steer the airplane using the rudder pedals and the airplane was towed back to the ramp.
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced, hard landing.
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This April 2024 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.
Polish er’ out and get the STC for Skyhawks Q-Tipper.
Four to go and she’s an Ace.
I think I heard a groan from a distant South Pacific island of a long lost lady aviator .
I hope she doesn’t let this accident stop her from becoming a pilot
I’d blame her CFI.
You can’t just teach one how to land and think they are ready to solo. A good CFI teaches what to do if things change from ‘laboratory perfect’. A plane shows up in the pattern while you’re landing? Teach that while you’re teaching landings/patterns, etc…. VASI/PAPI out of service? Same thing, teach that while you’re teaching landings.
Better yet, how about teaching to land without VASI/PAPI. Some runways don’t have either one, having an idea of the correct landing “picture” is essential.
CFI was deficient in the training, and student didn’t absorb much during the training, such as grasping what a correct glide path looks like from the cockpit.
Plenty of blame, it starts with the CFI.
I’d go shorter far as to say that MOST airports do not have VASI/PAPI. I’ve landed in a lot of airports since I started flying in 1972. Very few had VASI/PAPI. Even towered fields. If you train on a VASI field, the CFI definitely should make sure your training/cross country work includes non VASI fields.
Had an instructor sign off my fiance for solo. She was no where ready. I think there’s a tendency to overly cater to female students 🤔
I am a female student, and I know myself and my progress of capabilities. If my CFI thought I was ready to solo and I did not agree, I wouldn’t let him sign me off. I do not want to be treated differently just for being a female.
I am still new to the training environment, and I don’t know if special treatment happens, but I sure hope not. Flying is a serious and complex task. Great diligence and good judgement need to be exercised by all CFI’s. Not just a “get ‘em through the school” mentality.
This is on the instructor IMHO. I was taught that if something doesn’t look right or feel right, go around. If you feel rushed, go around. If it is too busy, go away. Going away was practiced, often. There was a VOR about 6 NM away, and there was a picture of the VOR (like a mini approach plate) on the clipboard that held the keys, on the opposite side of the checklist, that also showed the airport and what radial to take to get back. Students were taught that that is always placed within reach in the door pocket or anywhere to the front or side where it would not be dislodged. Student were also taught that if they were on a solo and needed help to not hesitate to call on the CTAF. Better that than to have a problem, and they were taught that such things could happen, but were trained NOT to have that happen. Even so, if in doubt, call, and a flight instructor will guide you.
A controller at a busier regional gave what I knew were conflicting instructions on landing sequencing, so I responded that I would extend the downwind and come back later. I didn’t care what he thought of that, I didn’t want a problem. I was taught no to argue with a controller, just do what I need to do to be safe.
This student’s instructor saw her as a cash cow. 50 hours before solo reflects badly on the instructor.
I made a mistake the day I was supposed to solo at 15 hours; the instructor called it the “100 hour mistake” : Low, slow, mushy… I had about 3 knots left before spin according to the CFI. He kept saying, You’re dangerous, you’re dangerous!, hands poised and ready to hit the throttle and lower the nose in a moment ( I saw the hands, but thought I was coming in perfectly). I just relaxed the nose enough finally to allow the plane to settle. He let me feel that so I never did it again. We debriefed it for a half an hour, then showed me the solo paperwork, and said we have to fix this. We flew the next day, and all of the landings were good. I soloed at 20 hours.
50 hours is ridiculous. At 20 hours, the CFI should have had a progress report done by another CFI. something done at my flight school, to find out where the block is. Not everybody can fly, but everybody can learn to fly if they want to. The head of the Flight School should have inquired about the student’s progress as well.
>50 hours is ridiculous<
I don't this should be considered a one size fits all statement. 50 hours for this 5,200 foot runway could be considered excessive. But if you're learning from say a 1,600 to 1,800 foot runway and the instructor insists your first solo happens on said runway, then perhaps a higher number of hours is not out of the ordinary.
“But if you’re learning from say a 1,600 to 1,800 foot runway and the instructor insists your first solo happens on said runway…”
I sincerely hope that is not the case here.
The CFI is always responsible for “setting the conditions” needed for a student’s safe solo.
But if a CFI is holding back an otherwise promising student, until they can solo from the “1,600’ to 1,800 foot runway” used in your example …or whatever those conditions may be …they need a new strategy.
I’d wonder how many of those 50 hours were spent exclusively focused on that one runway, while beating up that one traffic pattern?
There is no requirement to restrict a student’s initial solo to the same airport where they are ‘learning from’, or where they, the plane, and/or the CFI, are based.
Instead, I’d take them to an airport with a bigger/longer runway, maybe even with a (dreaded?) tower, and PAPI/VASI, so they can continue to gain experience and confidence.
That’s a way better plan than inhibiting their progress, when they have already exceeded the “Total Time” required for their Private Pilot certificate under either Part 61 or 141.
Regardless, 50 hours to solo is a lot: Kudus to her for not quitting out of frustration.
Student AND instructor obviously deficient.
remember, as Ken Dravis sings…see ‘ you can always go around’ on Youtube.
A great tune and a reminder that you can always go around , if you’re high and fast….
Fifty hours before first solo is a big RED Flag: Recognized she was too high and too fast, but didn’t think to initiate a go-around? I’d definitely want to have a discussion with her CFI(s).
“No PAPI” should be no problem for someone with that many hours. OTOH, looks like the props on the Baron parked next door suffered a similar fate; so maybe that airport is haunted?
Good eye, Tom!
Probably q-tip props on the Baron (they reduce noise and improve efficiency).
I’ll bet the E-55 owners wish they had real Q-tips! But those look like 2-blade DIY-ers …not STC-ers.
Seventeen, she was, with fifty hours, pre-solo. Fifty. That is a LOT.