N291RPCessna 172P · 1981

The student pilot reported that after completing 3 three takeoffs and landings with his instructor, he departed on the supervised solo instructional flight. He completed one traffic pattern, determined he was “a little high” and performed a go go-around. During the second approach, he said that at 60 knots, the nosewheel struck the runway first. His remedial action was to “pull back on the control yoke to correct the attitude of the plane” but the nose “ballooned” up and the airplane landed hard on the nose landing gear, separating it, and substantially damaging the airplane.

The operator and the flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.

According to the pilot, while on final approach to runway 15, about 5 ft above the runway, a "strong gust of crosswind" from the right resulted in the airplane's left wing striking the runway. The pilot reduced engine power and landed the airplane without further anomaly. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.