What happened
The aircraft was observed bouncing on the runway surface several times before it departed the left side of the runway and struck trees. The student pilot stated that he applied power while still on descent prior to touchdown, but the engine failed to respond as expected. However, a witness reported that power was applied after the first touchdown and noted that the engine sounded strong at that time.
The investigation
Following the accident, the engine was test run and operated satisfactorily. This indicates that the engine likely functioned correctly during the incident, contradicting the pilot's claim of failure to respond.
Findings
The student pilot had a total flight time of 45.6 hours, with 4.9 hours as pilot in command (solo). The conflicting accounts regarding power application timing and engine performance suggest potential issues with situational awareness or control inputs during the landing phase.