On June 9, 2004, a Cessna 152 (registration N802MC) was involved in an aviation accident near Elyria, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing and subsequent go-around, which resulted in the nose wheel striking tall grass. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A student pilot experienced a bounced landing during their first solo flight, leading to an aborted attempt that resulted in the aircraft coming to rest on its roof after striking grass.
What happened
The incident occurred while a student pilot was conducting his initial solo flight operation. The pilot was attempting to land on an asphalt runway measuring 3,053 feet in length and 48 feet in width. Upon touchdown, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind which caused it to bounce toward the left side of the runway surface.
In response to the bounce, the student pilot initiated a go-around procedure to abort the landing. During this maneuver, the nose wheel struck tall grass located adjacent to the runway. The impact with the vegetation caused the airplane to lose stability and come to rest in an inverted position on its roof.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a bounced landing and subsequent go-around, which resulted in the nose wheel striking tall grass.