What happened
Tower personnel observed the aircraft on a high and fast final approach. The tower reported that the aircraft appeared to be forced onto the runway, where it initially contacted the ground on the nosewheel before bouncing back into the air. On the second contact with the runway, the nosewheel fork split and the nosewheel separated from the aircraft. The 19-year-old student pilot stated that surface winds at the airport were a factor in the accident. However, surface wind was measured as calm at the airport at the time of the accident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the landing gear following the bounced landing. Evidence indicated that the nosewheel fork split during the second contact with the runway, leading to the separation of the nosewheel from the aircraft.