NTSB Factual Report

On August 30, 2003, about 1910 eastern day light time, a Cessna 172E, N5628T was destroyed during an aborted takeoff at Connellsville Airport (VVS), Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The certificated student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo instructional flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The student pilot reported her flight instructor had told her to perform 3 takeoffs and landings. She performed the first two with no problems. She taxied back to depart for the third takeoff and landing, and further stated:

"...After second landing, I just back tracked up the runway (no traffic in the area), called unicom and advised 5628T departing runway five. Got to Vr 60 knots, rotated then 65 knots as I flew down the runway. I noticed airspeed back to 60 knots and lowered nose, no difference so lowered again and no increase. I checked carb heat and flaps. They were ok. When I got to mid field, I decided to abort take off and pulled power back to idle. The plane came down on runway hard and bounced up. I saw the end of the runway as I came back up. Even though I know not to push the nose over, I did. The plane skidded and came to a stop. I looked down and fire was starting to come up under the instrument panel. I removed my headset and seatbelt, unlatched to door and left the plane...."

According to the flight instructor:

"The student...had completed two previous take offs and landings with no problems. On the third take off acceleration and rotation and sound of motor seemed normal. At a height of about 6 feet, myself and a EMS helicopter pilot thought we heard a backfire then a power reduction to idle. Just prior to backfire plane seemed to level off. After power loss or reduction nose came down slightly and plane touched down three point to slightly nose wheel first. Plane ballooned back into the air to a height of about 8 feet. Nose came down steeper than the first time contacting the runway nose first, shearing back or collapsing the nosewheel causing the plane to slide on the bottom of the engine cowling and the main gear about 200 to 250 feet. About 100-150 feet into the slide, fire broke out on the bottom right side of the engine cowling. When the plane came to a stop...[student pilot] exited within 1 second and ran towards me, about 100-150 feet behind plane...."

The student pilot had previously flown 17 years ago, and soloed in a Cessna 152. She had accumulated 34.3 hours of flight time, including 10.3 hours as pilot-in-command (PIC), when she stopped flying. She resumed flying in July 2003. She was signed off for solo flights on July 21, 2003, and since the resumption of flight training, had accumulated 17.2 hours, including 5.1 hours as PIC.

An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), reported that examination of the accident site revealed three gouge marks on the runway, consistent with propeller impacts, each with a depth of about 3/8 inch. His examination of the airplane revealed no blockage in the pilot tube. In addition, examination of the engine did not find any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper bounced landing recovery. A factor was the pilot's inadequate flare during the initial touchdown.