Event GAA17CA029

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that during landing in crosswind conditions, the airplane "porpoised back into the air two or three times, finally striking the nose gear hard." He further reported that the nose gear had been damaged and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. The engine mounts sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observing system at the accident airport, near the time of the accident, recorded the wind at 240 degrees true at 16 knots. The student pilot reported that the landing was on runway 29 right. The solo student pilot reported that during landing in crosswind conditions, the airplane "porpoised back into the air two or three times, finally striking the nose gear hard." He further reported that the nose gear had been damaged and the airplane veered off the runway to the right. The engine mounts sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observing system at the accident airport, near the time of the accident, recorded the wind at 240 degrees true at 16 knots. The student pilot reported that the landing was on runway 29 right. 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-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation