Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

The student pilot reported that during his first solo flight in the pattern he aborted the first landing because he was uncomfortable with the airplane's runway alignment. During the subsequent approach, the airplane was crabbed slightly to the right. He recalled that just before the airplane touched down, he applied left rudder and the airplane bounced. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with a drainage culvert and nosed over.

The student reported that the wind at the time of the accident was reported as calm.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage.

The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a drainage culvert.