Incident Overview
A student pilot on his first solo cross-country flight experienced a hard landing at the destination airport, which escalated into a series of ground contacts and a subsequent fire that destroyed the aircraft.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot set up an approach in the traffic pattern, using the Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) on final approach. During landing, the aircraft struck the runway hard and bounced. On the second ground contact, the propeller hit the runway. On the third ground contact, the nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft slid to a stop.
Post-Crash Fire
After the aircraft came to a stop, the cockpit began filling with smoke. The student pilot exited the aircraft uninjured. Upon exiting, the pilot noticed a fire under the aircraft, which was being fed by a stream of fuel from the right wing tank sump drain. The fire consumed the aircraft before it could be extinguished.
Outcome
The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. The student pilot was uninjured and safely evacuated the cockpit.