No fatalities

3 Aug 2008: BEECH C23 — Tailwheels Etc Inc. — Winter Haven, FL

Winter Haven, FL, United States

On 3 Aug 2008, a BEECH C23 operated by Tailwheels Etc Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Winter Haven, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot's second solo flight ended with a nose landing gear collapse and fire following a bounced landing and forward elevator input.

Incident Overview

A student pilot, who had flown 1.4 hours earlier that day with a certified flight instructor (CFI), departed on his second solo flight to practice landings. The first landing, a full-stop taxi back, reportedly resulted in the airplane porpoising slightly. The student then departed to perform another landing, which, according to the operator, resulted in a bounced landing.

Sequence of Events

During the bounced landing, the student reportedly applied forward elevator control input. This input led to the collapse of the nose landing gear. Subsequently, a fire erupted, which destroyed the airplane.

Aircraft Condition

Investigators found no reported preimpact failure or malfunction of the airplane or its systems. The aircraft was destroyed by the post-crash fire.

Contributing factors

Student pilotIncorrect use/operation