Incident Overview
A student pilot was returning to his home airport following a local practice flight. After entering the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to align the airplane with the runway while compensating for the crosswind conditions.
Events Leading to the Accident
Just before touchdown, the pilot decided to abort the landing. He increased engine power and retracted the flaps. Subsequently, the airplane began to drift off the left side of the runway and porpoised—oscillating in pitch. The airplane then struck the ground.
Damage and Findings
The right main landing gear collapsed as a result of the impact. Substantial damage occurred to the right wing and the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.