N172EF

On May 10, 2002, at 1245 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N172EF, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during an aborted landing at Norwood Municipal Airport (OWD), Norwood, Massachusetts. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local solo instructional flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the student pilot, he had completed three landings on runway 28 as part of a supervised solo flight. While on downwind for the fourth landing, the control tower advised airport traffic of variable winds, which included a crosswind component. The student pilot described the variable wind conditions as "gusty".

The student pilot also stated that when the airplane's main landing gear touched down on the runway, the airplane ballooned, then bounced, and drifted to the right. When he applied full power to go around, the "right wing dropped. Leveled wings and continued climbing. Removed 10 degrees of flaps and settled into tops of trees 100 feet right of runway."

The student pilot's flight instructor witnessed the accident. According to the instructor, the airplane ballooned in the flare, sank, then abruptly pitched nose-up. Then, the right wing dropped and the airplane veered to the right of the runway, toward the tree line. The airplane's wings then leveled and the airplane started to climb, but there was not enough altitude to clear the tree tops.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, wings, and tail control surfaces.

The pilot reported a total of 54 flight hours, of which, 14 hours were in make and model. He also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies.

Weather reported at Norwood Airport, at 1200, included winds from 300 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 17 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, and clear skies.