What happened
The accident occurred while a student pilot was operating an aircraft during the return leg of a solo cross-country flight. According to the pilot's subsequent report, the approach was conducted with attention to the Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI), which displayed a proper descent angle throughout the final phase. Despite the correct glide path indication, the pilot executed a long final approach.
Upon reaching the runway threshold, the aircraft touched down in a flat attitude characterized by a shallow flare. The impact was not firm enough to arrest the descent rate effectively, causing the main landing gear to bounce. The aircraft rebounded into the air and subsequently struck the runway surface again. During this second impact, the nose landing gear failed under the stress, collapsing upon contact with the ground.
The investigation
Post-acc examination revealed that the primary mechanical failure was the collapse of the nose landing gear. This structural failure was a direct consequence of the repeated high-energy impacts associated with the bounced landing sequence. No other pre-existing mechanical anomalies were cited as contributing factors in the immediate narrative of the event.
Findings
The pilot identified specific deficiencies in his handling of the landing phase as the root cause of the incident. He noted that the long final approach contributed to the difficulty in establishing a proper flare attitude. In his report, the student pilot explicitly recommended additional flight instruction focused on two key areas: standard landing techniques and the recovery procedures necessary to manage bounced landings safely.
The sequence of events indicates that while the descent angle was monitored correctly via the VASI, the timing of the flare was delayed or insufficient. This resulted in a flat touchdown that lacked the vertical energy absorption required for a safe stop, leading to the bounce and subsequent gear failure.