On 23 Mar 2016, a CESSNA 172 S operated by Frederick Flight Center was involved in an aviation accident near Frederick, MD. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper pitch control during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard bounced landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 15 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During his second solo flight, a student pilot encountered a gust of wind during landing flare, causing ballooning and two bounces on the nose wheel. He aborted the landing and landed uneventfully, but postaccident exam found substantial firewall damage.
Accident Details
A student pilot was conducting his second solo flight. During the landing flare, a gust of wind caused the airplane to balloon. Subsequently, the nose wheel contacted the runway twice, resulting in two bounces. After the second bounce, the student pilot applied full power and aborted the landing. The subsequent landing was uneventful, and he taxied the airplane to the ramp.
Damage
A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Contributing factors
Causes
PilotLanding flare — Not attained/maintainedPitch control — Not attained/maintained