NTSB Factual Report

On July 2, 2001, at 1938 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5286P, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway during a landing at Manassas Regional Airport (HEF), Manassas, Virginia. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the flight school's incident report, the student pilot made three landings with an instructor, then taxied to the ramp, where the instructor signed her endorsements.

The student pilot's flight instructor reported that prior to her departure, he instructed the student pilot to make three solo landings to a full stop. The student pilot took off again, and went around the traffic pattern three times before attempting her first solo landing on runway 34L. During the attempt, the airplane landed flat and bounced twice. It then touched down again, veered off the left side of the runway, and nosed over.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, during the first bounce, the nose wheel hit the runway hard, the tire blew, and the wheel rim was bent.

Winds, recorded at the airport about 15 minutes after the accident, were calm.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's loss of control of the airplane after bouncing the landing. A factor in the accident was her heightened anxiety over making her first solo landing.