NTSB Factual Report

On September 18, 2006, approximately 1215 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N24403, experienced a hard landing at Palm Beach County Airpark, Lantana, Florida. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned by Aviation H LLC, and operated by Kemper Aviation, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91, solo instructional flight, which departed the same airport about 50 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the student pilot, who failed to meet the reporting requirements of 14 CFR, Part 830.15 (a), she was in the process of executing her fourth practice landing when the aircraft bounced back into the air immediately after its initial touchdown. During her attempt to get the aircraft back on the ground, it contacted the runway surface with sufficient force to result in substantial damage to the aircraft's airframe. At the time of the landing on runway 07, the winds were reported to be from about 110 degrees at approximately eight knots. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, there was no indication of any flight control or system anomaly or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.