N97277Cessna 172P · 1984

The solo student pilot reported that during the landing flare, she "missed a little bit of flare and did a flat landing." She reported that the landing didn't really feel hard, and taxied back to the ramp. A post flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage.

The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The student pilot had performed three uneventful landings with his instructor on board; his certified flight instructor later stated that the student, "… performed way above the standards needed to show me he would be safe during solo flight." While flying solo for the first time, the student performed one uneventful touch-and-go landing and remained in the traffic pattern for runway 9R. With a calm wind, the student pilot reported that the approach was normal; however, the landing was harder than normal. He continued the takeoff roll for another touch-and-go landing but reported hearing a weird sound. He added power, and believe that was the moment when the nose landing gear tire deflated. He then felt a, "strange movement and I felt the nose falling." He reduced power to abort the takeoff and then heard and felt something touching the floor. After coming to rest he contacted the air traffic control tower and reported what occurred.Postaccident inspection of the airplane by several FAA inspectors revealed the wings, upper fuselage, cabin, tail, main landing gear, primary flight controls, engine, and engine mount were intact. The nose landing gear inner cylinder was pushed up through the upper housing, and the firewall was damaged on the left, right, and aft sides of the nose landing gear mount. The upper quadrant of the firewall also exhibited a seven inch buckle. Following recovery of the airplane, the engine was started and found to operate normally. The operator also reported that the cabin floor was bent.