What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On February 26, 2026, the student pilot was on his sixth or seventh solo flight and performing his fourth or fifth landing. During the approach to land, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and bounced off the runway surface. The pilot then forced the nose of the aircraft downward in an attempt to get it to land. As a result, the aircraft porpoised twice, and on the third bounce, the nose wheel bent, causing a propeller blade to separate from the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
ON FEBRUARY 26, 2026, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS SIXTH OR SEVENTH SOLO FLIGHT AND PERFORMING HIS FOURTH OR FIFTH LANDING. DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND BOUNCED OFF THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE PILOT THEN FORCED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DOWNWARD IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET IT TO LAND. AS A RESULT, THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED TWICE, AND ON THE THIRD BOUNCE, THE NOSE WHEEL BENT, CAUSING A PROPELLER BLADE TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.