Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11.9; Flight Crew Total 22.7; Flight Crew Type 22.7
Training / Qualification
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
I was taking off on my 3rd and final takeoff and landing for my first solo. I had 3 great landings with my instructor and had landed twice solo and was going in for my final takeoff and landing. I was climbing in the pattern and was at 800 feet when I turned right over [road] then leveled the wings. Waited 3 seconds and turned parallel to the runway at 1;100 feet. Powered to 4500 RPM got the clearance to land from Tower and radioed back for clear to land. I pulled the carb heat and when I got to ¾ of the runway I powered to 3000 RPM which is normal for a descent. I put in 2 seconds of flaps and took out the trim. I noticed I was a bit high at 900 feet when I turned over the shopping center so 100 feet above where I normally am. Put in some more flaps to about 20 degrees and turned in to final. I saw 3 whites and 1 red light; so I knew I was a bit high; I reduced power to get the plane to slow and reduce elevation. This gets me to the railroad tracks and descending in normally. Power is reduced to idle over the railroad tracks near Runway XX airplane starts to decent quicker than the last 2 times that I landed solo. As a result; I pitched up to get the glare shield on the horizon as that happened; I touched down and bounced on the runway. As the aircraft rose; I pitched for a decent angle thinking I was high above the runway; as the nose came over; I was surprised how close to the runway I was. Then I pitched for level flight; as I did this the aircraft touched down for a second; I thought It touched flat. But the nose dropped even more; this is when I heard the prop strike the runway. The aircraft went out of control veering to the left; as it departed the runway the nose gear collapses and digs into the dirt. The forward momentum of the airplane has the tail lifted off the ground before aggressively landing on the mains. the aircraft has come to a full stop; after stopping I paused for 3 seconds and then I contacted Tower and let them know what happened. After contacting Tower; I Opened my door and took off the seat belt; took the headset off and stepped out of the plan. I went out of the aircraft for 30 seconds before going back and turning the ignition off and turning off the master switch. After that I was met by airport ops.  After the initial shock and recuperating my thoughts I have found what mistakes I made on this solo and how this should have been avoided. Firstly; there is the initial bounce and when I caught air; I should have pushed into full power and pitched up to have the glare shield on the horizon which allows me to climb and then radio into Tower for a go-around. Definitely do not pitch down like I did and try to save the landing but rather go full power and pitch up for a climb. I was very appreciative of the airport ops and their quick action to make sure that I was safe and getting all the information to see how I didn't land correctly.
GA student pilot reported a propeller strike during landing resulting in a runway excursion and nose gear collapse.