Santa Monica, CA, USA
N643JK
CZECH SPORT AIRCRAFT AS PIPER SPORT
The solo student pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, about 250 ft above ground level (agl) she discovered that the cockpit canopy was unlocked. She notified the tower controller of the situation and requested to land. While on final approach the airplane was high, so she reduced power to glide to the runway. She attempted to level off on the glide path however the airplane continued to descend and impacted the runway in a nose down attitude. The lower fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The student pilot’s improper landing flare.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
