Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to take remedial action in response to a porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation during landing. Factors were the porpoise, the pilot's lack of experience, and the separation of the nose landing gear.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot related that he was on his first solo landing when the airplane began to porpoise. He said he did not have the experience or knowledge to correct the porpoise. The porpoise oscillation continued until the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CHI08CA130 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 14, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Pulaski, Wisconsin
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 150
- N-number
- N22997
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
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.