Event ERA11CA490

Factual narrative

The student pilot stated he was on a solo cross-country flight. He entered the traffic pattern at his intermediate stop and completed all before landing checks. He turned on final approach for landing and flared too late, resulting in a hard landing, loss of directional control, runway excursion, and collision with an embankment during an attempted go-around. The airplane sustained structural damage to the firewall, right wing, and right horizontal stabilizer. The student pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The student pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern at the airport and completed all before-landing checks. He said that the airplane touched down hard, and he lost directional control. The airplane exited the runway, collided with an embankment and sustained substantial damage to the firewall, right wing, and right horizontal stabilizer. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Student pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C