Cessna 172R N674MA accident near Romeoville, Illinois

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to attain/maintain a proper landing flare and failure to perform a go-around that resulted in an impact with the runway.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot stated that during her initial solo flight, she attempted three landings. The first and second landing attempts resulted in go-arounds. During the third landing attempt, there was a “severe porpoise,” and she felt the airplane “rushing down the runway uncontrollably.” She “pushed down” to stop the porpoise because she felt that she was never going to be able to land. The airplane then impacted the runway surface and sustained substantial damage, which included damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by performing a go-around instead of forcing the airplane onto the runway. There was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane reported that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN23LA256 for the full record.