Probable cause
The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
During the second landing of the student pilot's second solo flight, the airplane bounced and the student applied forward elevator control input. The airplane landed on the nose landing gear, which collapsed and initiated a fire that destroyed the airplane. There was no reported preimpact failure or malfunction of the airplane or its systems.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for MIA08CA153 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 3, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Winter Haven, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Winter Haven'S Gilbert Airport (GIF)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech C23
- N-number
- N9194S
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Destroyed
- 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.