What happened
The accident occurred during the landing phase of flight. According to the account provided by the student pilot, the aircraft touched down on the runway but failed to settle smoothly. Instead, the airplane hit hard and bounced forward and to the left approximately four or five times in succession.
During these bounces, the underside of the aircraft struck the ground repeatedly. This sequence of impacts caused substantial damage to the belly of the airplane. Additionally, the bouncing motion resulted in the aircraft colliding with three runway lights, which were damaged in the process.
The investigation
Following the incident, an examination was conducted to determine the condition of the aircraft and its systems prior to the accident. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions affecting the airplane or any of its systems before the event. This indicates that the aircraft was airworthy and functioning normally up until the moment of touchdown.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's inability to maintain directional control and prevent excessive bouncing during the landing roll. The substantial damage to the belly of the aircraft and the three runway lights highlights the severity of the hard landings experienced. No mechanical issues were identified as contributing factors.