On April 1, 2008, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N64938, experienced a hard landing at Gillespie Field, El Cajon, California. Fly CFA LLC was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage during a post crash fire. The local instructional flight departed Gillespie about 1400. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The student was on a solo flight to practice touch-and-go landings. He made six successful landings, but noticed that the winds were increasing. On the seventh approach, he stated that the winds were variable and started to gust.

The student said that he maintained 55 knots as he came over the approach end of the runway. The airplane suddenly drifted to the left side of the runway. He used ailerons, and corrected to the centerline. The airplane touched down hard, and bounced. After the airplane came to rest, he saw smoke and fire, and evacuated from the airplane.