Pilot Debrief

GROB-WERKE G 120A near Buckeye, AZ — 2010-08-24

Final reportWPR10LA426
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Date
2010-08-24
Location
Buckeye, AZ, USA
Airport
BXK
Aircraft
GROB-WERKE G 120A
Registration
N865AF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that during his first solo flight the first touchdown was smooth; however, the airplane bounced and became airborne. The second touchdown was much firmer. On the third touchdown the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude, whereupon the nose gear assembly and several structural components in the composite fuselage broke.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Student pilot could have aborted the landing after the firmer second touchdown.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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