Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX08CA163

Bremerton, WA, USA

Aircraft #1

N52807

Cessna 172P

Analysis

The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on his first solo flight. After one successful touch-and-go landing, he made a second approach. He maintained 65 knots, lowered 30 degrees of flaps, and followed the glide path. After the airplane touched down on the main gear, it ballooned and the student pilot applied slight forward pressure on the yoke. The nose gear and propeller struck the ground, and the airplane bounced back into the air. He lost control of the airplane as the nose gear and propeller struck the runway several more times. He braked heavily, and the airplane skidded to the side of the runway before stopping.

Factual Information

In a written statement, the student pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings on his first solo flight. After one successful touch-and-go landing, he made a second approach. He maintained 65 knots, lowered 30 degrees of flaps, and followed the glide path. After landing, the airplane ballooned and the student pilot applied slight forward pressure on the yoke. The propeller struck the ground, and the airplane bounced back into the air. He was unable to pull back on the yoke because it would not move, and the propeller struck the ground again. He lost control of the airplane as the propeller struck several more times. He braked heavily, and the airplane skidded to the side of the runway before stopping. The pilot indicated that the airplane had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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