Accident Overview
A student pilot and aircraft owner was conducting pattern work at an uncontrolled airstrip. The pilot reported completing three full-stop takeoffs and landings to runway 32 before the accident occurred on the fourth approach.
Landing Sequence
During the approach to runway 32, the airplane touched down on the nose wheel, causing it to bounce. After becoming airborne again, the airplane touched down a second time, at which point the nose landing gear collapsed.
Post-Collapse Event
Following the collapse of the nose gear, the student pilot steered the airplane off the left side of the runway. The aircraft entered sandy terrain, which resulted in additional structural damage beyond that caused by the gear failure.
Pilot Experience
The student pilot had accumulated approximately 54 hours of total flight time, with 46 hours logged in the accident aircraft make and model. Total solo flight experience was 3.5 hours, all in the same make and model. The accident flight itself comprised 1 hour of that solo time.