MIA99LA080

The pilot's corrective action to a firm, three-point touchdown and high bounce during landing was to pitch the nose down resulting in a second bounce and a subsequent blown nose tire and a loss of directional control. The airplane exited the runway pavement off the side incurring substantial damage.

On February 10, 1999, about 1730 central standard time, a Cessna 172P, N6089K, registered to and operated by Delta State University, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed on landing at Cleveland Municipal Airport, Cleveland, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated about 15 minutes before the accident.

According to the student pilot, he had flown for 1 hour 6 minutes before the accident flight during which he performed takeoffs and landings with his flight instructor, had been signed off for solo flight by his instructor, and was conducting his first solo landing. His landing resulted in a three point touchdown and a high bounce. His reaction was to pitch the nose down resulting in a second, nose gear first touchdown and a blown nose tire. He stated that he lost directional control and ran off the side of the runway, into ruts along the runway's boundary and the infield grass.