On July 9, 2020, an Air Creation/Sides Rick A MANTA 503 No Series was involved in an aviation accident near Ramona, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The solo student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent nose over. This summary draws on records from NTSB.
A student pilot in a weight shift control aircraft experienced a bounce and subsequent nose over during landing in moderate crosswind conditions, resulting in substantial wing damage.
Event Details
A solo student pilot was flying a weight shift control aircraft on final approach to land. During the approach, the pilot encountered increased turbulence accompanied by a moderate crosswind. To compensate for the turbulence, the student pilot increased the approach speed. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced approximately 3 feet. The student pilot then attempted to compensate for the turbulence and crosswind by forcing the aircraft down onto the runway. On the second touchdown, the aircraft was not aligned with the runway heading, causing the nose wheel to dig into the ground. The aircraft subsequently nosed over.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing as a result of the accident.
Pilot Report
The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Contributing factors
Causes
Landing flare — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilot