This March 2008 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.
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Batavia, Ohio. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The student pilot had a total of 97.5 hours, including 5.8 hours as pilot-in-command, of which 2.3 hours was in a Cessna 172. She was practicing solo takeoffs and landings in what she described as gusty winds. The plane was established on final approach at about 65 knots. The airplane was slightly low, but she did not feel the need to correct the glide path. The airplane touched down and its nose suddenly turned to the left and the plane bounced several times. Her efforts to regain control were not successful and the airplane ultimately came to rest in a grass area to the left side of the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed.
Probable cause: The pilot’s misjudgment of the landing flare and inadequate recovery from the bounced landing.
For more information: NTSB.gov
