What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Student on initial solo flight. After take-off aircraft climbed to approximately 20 feet the rapidly descended back down to the runway landing very hard. Flight terminated. Post flight inspection by FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall, fuselage structure and a propeller strike. Maintenance records indicate all inspections current. This investigation CFI who endorsed this student for a solo flight did not have a current medical. This issue addressed via separate investigation.
As the FAA filed it
STUDENT ON INITIAL SOLO FLIGHT. AFTER TAKE-OFF AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET THE RAPIDLY DESCENDED BACK DOWN TO THE RUNWAY LANDING VERY HARD. FLIGHT TERMINATED. POST FLIGHT INSPECTION BY FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE FIREWALL, FUSELAGE STRUCTURE AND A PROPELLER STRIKE. MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATE ALL INSPECTIONS CURRENT. THIS INVESTIGATION CFI WHO ENDORSED THIS STUDENT FOR A SOLO FLIGHT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL. THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED VIA SEPARATE INVESTIGATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.