Accident Details
A student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight when he had to make an intermediate stop at an airport. After departing from that airport, he decided to remain in the traffic pattern for a practice landing. During the landing attempt, the pilot reported that the touchdown was "heavy" on the left main landing gear, causing the airplane to bounce. Immediately after the bounce, the airplane veered left and departed the runway surface.
The pilot attempted to abort the landing but was unable to regain flying speed. The airplane continued off the runway, leaving tire ruts in the soft grass adjacent to the pavement, and subsequently impacted a tree line, where it came to rest.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that the landing was heavy on the left side and that the airplane bounced. He noted that immediately after the bounce, the airplane "shot off the runway to the left." Despite his efforts to abort the landing, he could not regain sufficient airspeed to avoid the collision with the trees.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection confirmed continuity of all flight controls. Physical evidence at the scene showed tire ruts in the soft grass extending from the runway edge to the tree line where the airplane came to rest.