NTSB Factual Report

On April 8, 2002, approximately 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P single-engine airplane, N99341, sustained substantial damage following a hard landing while executing touch and go landings at the McKinney Municipal Airport (TKI), McKinney, Texas. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by American Flyers Schools Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight departed Addison Airport, Addison, Texas, at an unknown time.

The 27-hour student pilot and a flight instructor departed Addison Airport and flew to TKI. After completing approximately 12 landings at TKI, the flight instructor exited the airplane. The student pilot then taxied the airplane and departed for his first solo flight. During the third touch and go landing, the pilot reported that the airplane "flared more than usual." The pilot added power; however, the nose wheel struck the runway. Subsequently, the airplane bounced on the runway approximately 4 to 6 times before coming to a stop. The pilot then taxied the airplane off the runway and back to the ramp.

The NTSB was notified of the damage to the airplane on May 2, 2002, after the airplane was recovered to Air Salvage of Dallas, Lancaster, Texas.

According to an NTSB investigator, who examined the airplane after it was recovered, the firewall and forward floor panels were structurally damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause

the student pilot's failure to properly recover from a bounced landing which resulted in the airplane porpoising. A contributing factor was the student pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing.