What happened
During a solo flight, the aircraft executed a landing on runway 27 at Marlboro Airport. The touchdown was forceful, resulting in a hard landing that caused substantial damage to the airframe. Following the incident, it was confirmed that the student pilot aboard sustained minor injuries.
The pilot involved had accumulated a total of 47 flight hours. All of this experience was gained operating the same make and model of aircraft as the one involved in the accident. The investigation into the event determined that the primary factor leading to the hard landing was the pilot's failure to properly flare the aircraft and compensate for a rapid sink rate during the final phase of approach.
Findings
The mechanical examination confirmed substantial damage to the aircraft. Contributing factors included the pilot's inability to manage the descent profile effectively. The lack of proper flare technique directly resulted in the excessive impact forces upon touchdown.