Amateur-built SPORTCRUISER N117BF accident near Murrieta, California

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent loss of directional control and a hard landing.

NTSB analysis

The solo student pilot reported that his second approach for landing was low and that, when he flared, the wheels contacted the runway, and the airplane bounced. The student did not want to stall the airplane, so he pitched the nose down to level it, but it bounced again, drifted left, exited the runway, landed hard, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The operator 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 GAA19CA537 for the full record.