NTSB Factual Report

The solo student pilot reported that, during his first solo flight, on the second landing of three, the airplane porpoised. His flight instructor was observing the airplane and reported that the nose wheel impacted the ground first. Subsequently, the student pilot added power and performed a go-around. On the third landing the flight instructor added that the touchdown was soft and on the main landing gear. Once the nose wheel touched down, the airplane veered off the runway to the right, into grass, and nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage.

The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot’s loss of directional control.