N734YU

On July 16, 1999, at 0910 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734YU, collided with the ground during landing at the Kissimmee Municipal Airport, Kissimmee, Florida. The airplane was operated by the student pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando, Florida, at 0745.

According to the FAA Inspector, the student pilot was on a solo flight in the local area. The student pilot radioed Kissimmee Tower seven miles northwest of the airport for landing instructions. The student pilot was instructed to call a three mile left base to runway 6. Initially confused by the runway instructions, the student pilot continued to the airport. When the student pilot finally established visual contact with runway 6 the airplane was too high and too fast for a normal landing. The student pilot continued the approach and bounced the airplane on the runway. He added power to recover from the bounce but the airplane touched down on the nose wheel. The nose wheel assembly collapsed and the nose wheel tire was flatten during the second bounce.

The subsequent examination of the airplane disclosed that the propeller blade tips struck the runway surface and were damaged. There was also engine firewall damage. No mechanical problems with the aircraft were reported by the pilot.