Probable cause
The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
According to the student pilot, he was on his first solo cross-country flight but decided to return to his departure airport as he was uncomfortable with the winds. On landing, the airplane bounced and the nose landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. A left-quartering headwind at 12 knots was present at the time of the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10CA200 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 30, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Sarasota, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Sarasota/Bradenton Internation (SRQ)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172
- N-number
- N21394
- 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.