Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors
First solo landing after 27 [flights] under supervision from certified flight instructors; 26 [flights] in the last 7 weeks. Immediately prior to the incident; 7 supervised landings were performed; all at [the home] airport. After normal takeoff and traffic pattern; normal landing was attempted on Runway 03. Aircraft seemed slightly high on approach; lights were white and red. Airspeed was 65 knots when the runway threshold was crossed. As the aircraft rounded out; it ballooned during flare. The aircraft bounced once; came down hard; and exited the runway at an angle of approximately 15 degrees to the left of runway 3; crossing taxiway Alpha and coming to a stop in the gravel separating the ramp from taxiway Alpha. No injuries were sustained. One occupant in aircraft at time of incident.
Student pilot initial solo. Prior to solo flight I (as the flight instructor) evaluated [the student] on his landings in preparation for solo. I noted deficiencies and gave corrective action. After a number of satisfactory landings I felt [the student] would be able to successfully takeoff and land the aircraft under solo conditions. We taxied to parking; shut down and I asked [the student] if he felt comfortable soloing. The decision was made to start the initial solo. I stood by the ramp with a transceiver to listen to radio communication and assist tower if any radio calls were needed. Takeoff and traffic pattern looked normal from the ground. I watched the approach only noting that he was high on glide path. The aircraft rounded out and began to balloon during the flare. It then came down hard and banked to the left where it exited Runway 03; came across Taxiway A (Alpha) and came to a rest in the gravel next to the Ramp. [The student] suffered no injuries.
A student pilot and observing flight instructor reported an unstabilized approach during first solo flight that resulted in a loss of directional control and a runway excursion.