What happened
During a training exercise, a student pilot attempted to land an aircraft for what was documented as their first solo landing. The approach and flare were monitored by a certified flight instructor (CFI) seated in the right seat. According to the instructor's account, the student initiated the flare at approximately 40 feet above ground level with the throttle set to idle.
The instructor reported hearing no sound of engine power being applied during the initial phase of the landing. The aircraft subsequently bounced off the runway surface. It was only after this bounce that the instructor heard partial power being applied, likely in an attempt to recover from the hard contact. The flight instructor had previously assessed the student as being super in training and considered them ready for solo operations.
The investigation
The primary source of information regarding the mechanics of the event is the post-incident review by the flight instructor. No mechanical failure or external weather factors were cited as contributing to the bounce. The investigation focused on the pilot's technique during the critical flare phase of the landing.