Accident Overview
A student pilot on her second supervised solo flight performed a normal approach to land. According to her report, the airplane touched down on all three wheels, but then ballooned upward in a porpoising motion, rising approximately three to five feet. She initiated a go-around, but the airplane descended and contacted the runway with the nose wheel first, causing the nose wheel to collapse. The airplane subsequently skidded to a stop.
Instructor's Observations
The student pilot's flight instructor, who was monitoring the landing, confirmed that the initial touchdown was smooth and on all three tires. He stated that the aircraft then became airborne again, and the pilot pitched the nose down, resulting in the wheels touching down with the nose wheel first (a slightly nose-low pitch attitude). This second touchdown led to a porpoising oscillation that ultimately collapsed the nose wheel.
Go-Around Attempt
During the final seconds of the landing sequence, the instructor heard the application of power, indicating a go-around attempt. However, he noted that the nose was too low for the pilot to establish a climb, preventing a successful go-around.
Conclusions
The investigation did not provide a probable cause for the accident.