N757PZ

On August 17, 2001, about 1345 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N757PZ, was substantially damaged during landing at the Newark-Heath Airport (VTA), Newark, Ohio. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Cincinnati Municipal-Lunken Field Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio. The solo instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The airplane was landing on runway 27, a 4,649 foot-long, 75 foot-wide, asphalt runway.

In a written statement, the student pilot said the airplane was approximately 10 to 20 feet above the runway, when it encountered a "large gust from the left side" and the left wing dipped. He applied full power, and leveled the wings with the intention of performing a go-around; however, the airplane contacted the runway and bounced. The student pilot pulled back on the control wheel to ascend; however, the airplane nosed over onto the runway.

The student pilot reported 42 hours of total flight experience, which included 41 hours in make and model. He did not reported any mechanical problems with the airplane.

The winds reported at VTA, at 1359, were from 230 degrees at 11 knots with 16 knot gusts.