What happened
The accident involved a student pilot with approximately 17 hours of total flight time who was conducting his first solo flight. The pilot successfully completed one landing prior to the incident. During the second attempt on runway 35, the aircraft bounced upon initial contact with the pavement. Instead of recovering, the aircraft bounced again, reaching an altitude of approximately 20 to 30 feet before descending.
Upon recontacting the runway, the aircraft nosed down abruptly. The nose landing gear failed to support the weight of the aircraft, resulting in a hard impact on the nose section. Environmental conditions at the time indicated winds from 350 degrees at 12 knots.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the damage was the pilot's inability to control the aircraft during a bounced landing sequence. The excessive altitude gained during the second bounce prevented a controlled flare, resulting in a nose-first impact that exceeded the structural limits of the nose gear.