Flight Details
The student pilot departed from his home airport for a solo cross-country flight. He performed a touch-and-go landing at the first destination. While approaching the second intended destination, his initial approach was too high, prompting a go-around. He attempted a second landing but was unable to land due to gusting winds, and decided to return to his home airport.
Return and Accident
Upon arrival at his home airport, the student pilot encountered gusting winds. During the flare for landing, the airplane floated. He attempted to execute a go-around, but the right wing rose up abruptly. The plane veered to the left and subsequently struck trees.
Weather Conditions
The student pilot's flight instructor reviewed wind conditions prior to the flight and completed a logbook endorsement with limitations: a 15-knot maximum headwind and 12-knot maximum crosswind. Winds at the approximate departure time were forecast to gust to 25 knots. A weather observation taken 15 minutes before the accident recorded wind direction varying by 70 degrees and gusts up to 23 knots.