Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper approach speed and his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was attempting to land when the airplane's descent rate increased, resulting in a hard landing and a bounce. The airplane nosed over prior to the touchdown, allowing the propeller to strike the runway and causing the nose landing gear to buckle and collapse before the airplane skidded to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA519 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 26, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Nearest airport
- Meadow Lake (KFLY)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Aero Sp Z O O AT-4 LSA
- N-number
- N1277K
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.