N3489T

On April 19, 1997, at 1310 central daylight time, a Cessna 177, N3489T, operated by a student pilot collided with the runway following a loss of control while landing at the Rantoul National Aviation Center, Rantoul, Illinois. The landing was being made on runway 27 (5,000' x 75'). The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated from Plymouth, Indiana, at approximately 1200 cdt.

The student pilot stated she entered the traffic pattern for runway 27. On downwind she "put on half flaps and maintained an airspeed of 80 mph." She stated she initiated the landing flare over the first quarter of the runway and when she "pulled off the throttle" the airplane "fell in." She reported the airplane bounced and she applied power, but it contacted the runway on the nose gear. She reported the airplane bounced once more at which time she again added power and made a landing.

The student pilot reported that after taxiing the airplane to the local fixed base operator she noticed the damage to the nose gear and fuselage.