N1405E

On April 16, 1997, at 1640 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N1405E, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway and nosed over while landing on Runway 19 at the Lincoln Park Airport, Lincoln Park, New Jersey. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated at Lincoln Park, approximately 1620, and was conducted under 14 CFR part 91.

The student pilot reported to the Lincoln Park Police that he "...was approaching the runway on final at roughly 65 knots - I crabbed into the wind - what I thought was a normal landing. When I touched down the airplane bounced. After the 1st or 2nd bounce it veered off the runway to the left onto the grass. Seems like the wind pushed me over."

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the student pilot reported:

"Upon landing I ballooned, when I hit the runway the second time I had trouble holding the aircraft on the runway. After traveling down the runway for a distance, the aircraft rolled onto the grass on the left side of the runway. After slowing down somewhat, the aircraft flipped over once, onto the wings."

Examination of the airplane and interviews with the pilot by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed the nose wheel collapsed during a hard, bounced landing. The Inspector stated that this was the student pilot's 5th solo flight.

The pilot reported that the airplane had no mechanical deficiencies.

At 1650, an airport 5 miles to the south of Lincoln Park reported winds from 220 degrees at 10 knots.

The student pilot had a total flight experience of 33 hours.