Accident Sequence
According to the student pilot, the first two landing attempts during the flight resulted in bounced landings. On each occasion, the pilot executed a go-around. On the third landing attempt, the airplane was flown toward the runway at a shallower angle compared to the previous approaches. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced. The bounce led to an impact involving the nose landing gear, which subsequently collapsed.
Postaccident Findings
A postaccident examination of the airplane identified substantial damage to the engine firewall. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the aircraft reported that no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation. The inspector's report did not cite any preexisting issues with the airplane's systems or structure.