21 Mar 2010: CESSNA 172 S — Academy of Aviation — Farmingdale, NY

No fatalitiesFarmingdale, NY, United States

A student pilot experienced a landing accident involving a nose gear collapse while returning from a solo cross-country flight.

What happened

On March 21, 2010, a Cessna 172, registration N1895A, was returning to Farmingdale, NY, following the student pilot's first solo cross-country flight. During the landing phase, the aircraft landed flat and began to porpoise. After several bounces, the nose landing gear collapsed, causing the propeller to strike the runway. The student pilot managed to steer the aircraft onto a taxiway, where it came to a stop. There were no injuries resulting from the accident.

At the time of the event, weather conditions were VMC with a visibility of 10 statute miles and variable winds at 5 knots.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the student pilot's improper flare and failure to properly recover from a bounced landing.

Contributing factors

Student pilotIncorrect use/operation