Accident Sequence
The accident occurred during a student pilot's first supervised solo flight, which was observed by the student's certified flight instructor. The student's first two attempted landings were aborted with go-arounds. The following two approaches resulted in touch-and-go landings. A fifth approach again ended with a go-around. The accident happened during the subsequent attempted landing.
The student made a hard bounced touchdown, causing the aircraft to balloon to an estimated height of 50 to 75 feet. The student then attempted to initiate a go-around. During this maneuver, the student reduced the wing flap setting and increased the angle of attack. The airplane subsequently stalled and rolled into a steep left bank, descending until impacting the ground. After impact, the aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest in a nose-down attitude in an open field near the control tower.
Pilot Comments
The student indicated that he should not have retracted the wing flaps so quickly while initiating the go-around.