Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that, during his second solo flight, while performing a touch and go, the airplane landed "very" hard and bounced twice before he initiated a go-around. During the subsequent base turn, he felt that the rudder pedals were not reacting to his commands, and he "sensed" that the landing gear had been damaged during the landing. Immediately after the nosewheel touched down, the airplane veered right and exited the runway.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount.
The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA036 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 25, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Carson City, Nevada
- Nearest airport
- Carson (CXP)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Airplane Factory Sport Light
- N-number
- N288SL
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2014
- 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.