What happened
The aircraft experienced a bounce upon touchdown during the landing phase. The event occurred while operating in a 10-knot crosswind condition. The pilot involved was a student aviator conducting his third unsupervised solo flight. Following the bounce, the aircraft departed the paved surface on the right side of the runway. This excursion resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear.
The pilot had accumulated a total of 28 hours of flight time at the time of the incident. His logbook contained a specific restriction entered by his flight instructor. This restriction limited landings to conditions with a maximum crosswind component of 8 knots. The actual crosswind during the accident was 10 knots, exceeding this limitation.
Findings
The primary factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and airspeed during a bounced landing. This occurred in weather conditions that exceeded the limitations placed on his training by his instructor. The student pilot had been restricted from practicing landings with crosswind components greater than 8 knots due to proficiency concerns.
Safety message
Student pilots must strictly adhere to all logbook restrictions imposed by their instructors. These limitations are designed to ensure safety and proficiency before advancing to more complex conditions. Exceeding these limits can lead to loss of control or structural damage.