GAA19CA503

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane "bounced big/hard." She corrected by pitching the airplane for straight and level flight and prepared to flare again. The airplane touched down hard on the runway and bounced again. She was able to land and taxied to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the nose wheel. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 160° at 7 knots. The student was landing the airplane on runway 32. The solo student pilot reported that, while landing, the airplane "bounced" and then landed "hard." She corrected by pitching the airplane for straight-and-level flight and prepared to flare again. However, the airplane touched down hard on the runway and bounced again. She was able to land the airplane and taxied it to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the nosewheel. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 160° at 7 knots. The student was landing the airplane on runway 32. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation - C