NTSB Factual Report

On May 21, 2005, about 1035 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N860SA, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 28 (4,001 feet by 75 feet) at the St Clair County International Airport (PHN), near Port Huron, Michigan. The solo instructional flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was uninjured. The flight originated from the Huron County Memorial Airport, near Bad Axe, Michigan, about 0945.

The pilot's accident report stated:

Upon turning base leg I determined that I was high and

reduced power to idle. I maintained an airspeed of 65

[knots] and judged that I would touch down at the runway

midpoint. At the midpoint I had not touched down and

was still 30 to 50 [feet] above the runway. Instead of

going around I attempted to land. In the process I

rotated [too] soon and [too] much. This resulted in

landing at a higher speed. I landed hard and bounced

up. I maintained direction accurately and stopped the

aircraft within the confines of the runway.

At 1035, the recorded weather at PHN was: Wind 310 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 21 degrees C; dew point 4 degrees C; altimeter 30.02 inches of mercury.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot not performing a go-around and misjudging the flare leading to a hard landing.