Accident Overview
A student pilot, on his third solo flight, was landing when a series of events led to substantial damage. While on the final leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane was stable. The pilot increased pitch and initiated a flare, at which point the stall warning horn activated. In response, he released back pressure on the yoke to reduce pitch. The airplane then contacted the runway, and the nose wheel bounced heavily.
Sequence of Events
Following the heavy bounce, the nose wheel buckled, and the right rudder pedal jammed to the right. This caused the airplane to veer off to the right side of the runway, ultimately coming to rest on a grass apron.
Damage and Examination
The accident sequence resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. A subsequent examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no preexisting anomalies with the airplane. The student pilot also reported no mechanical issues prior to the event.