Incident Overview
A student pilot was descending into the traffic pattern when the airplane collided with a bird on the leading edge of the left wing. Despite the impact, the pilot continued the approach and flared over the runway.
Landing Sequence
During the flare, the left wing dropped, and the airplane touched down on the left main landing gear. It bounced back into the air before coming back down on the runway. As the landing roll continued, the airplane began veering to the left, and the student pilot lost directional control.
Runway Excursion
The airplane departed the left side of the runway, entered the grass, and collided with a ditch. The impact caused the airplane to nose over inverted. Both wings and the firewall sustained substantial damage.
Pilot's Statement
The student pilot reported that she did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident.