What happened
The incident involved a solo student pilot operating an aircraft during the final phase of flight. The pilot reported that he was positioned too high during the landing flare. In response to this altitude discrepancy, he applied power with the intention of executing a go-around maneuver.
However, the pilot subsequently decided not to complete the go-around. At this point, the airplane touched down on the runway with significant force. Following the initial impact, the aircraft bounced and began to veer toward the right side of the runway. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control during this sequence. The airplane eventually came to a rest in the grass located off the right side of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the actions taken by the solo student pilot during the landing flare and the subsequent decision-making process. The primary finding was that the pilot added power to initiate a go-around but then aborted the maneuver, leading to a hard landing. The aircraft experienced a bounce and veered right prior to touching down again. The airplane came to a stop in the grass off the right side of the runway.
Findings
The key factors contributing to this incident include the pilot's decision to abort the go-around after adding power, which resulted in a hard landing. The loss of directional control following the bounce and veer to the right was critical. The airplane ultimately ended up off the runway in the grass.