Probable cause
The student pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot was conducting his second solo flight. He reported that he felt the wind shift to a light tailwind just prior to landing on runway 27L, and, when the airplane touched down, it bounced and became airborne again. During the subsequent touchdown, the airplane landed hard, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. In addition, the propeller and left wing contacted the ground. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported 29 hours of total flight experience, which included 2 hours of solo flight time, all in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident was from 160 degrees at 7 knots.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12CA178 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 10, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Miami, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Kendall-Tamiami (TMB)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N67973
- 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.