Accident Overview
A person piloting an aircraft with a recently issued third-class medical certificate and student pilot certificate attempted to reposition the aircraft from a private airstrip to a location where he planned to receive flight instruction. Despite having held a student pilot certificate, he had not received instruction in an airplane for over 20 years and did not possess an endorsement to fly an airplane solo.
Landing Sequence
While attempting to land at the destination, the pilot allowed the aircraft to contact the runway while in an excessive rate of descent. The impact was hard enough to collapse the nose gear, damage the firewall, shatter the gasculator bowl, and fracture a fuel line fitting. The aircraft then bounced back into the air.
Second Impact and Fire
Following the bounce, the aircraft hit the runway hard a second time. It then slid along the surface with flames emanating from the aft area of the engine compartment. By the time the aircraft came to a stop, much of the forward half was engulfed in flames.
Pilot Outcome
The pilot was able to exit the aircraft unassisted. However, he later succumbed to the extensive thermal injuries sustained during the accident sequence.