Tecnam P2010 accident near Waco, Texas, May 7, 2024
On May 7, 2024 at about 5:17 pm local time, a 2019 Tecnam P2010, registered N502U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Waco, Texas (Waco Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s inadequate landing flare that led to a bounced landing, and his improper pitch control while he attempted a recovery from the bounced landing which resulted in a significant nose-down pitch attitude upon the second touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2024 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Waco, Texas · Waco Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Tecnam P2010, built 2019
- Registration
- N502U · registry record · serial 102/US
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was conducting a solo flight when the airplane landed hard, bounced, and then struck nose wheel first on the runway. The nose landing gear separated from the forward fuselage and the airplane veered left. The airplane then skidded off the left edge of the runway in a nose down attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage structure and several engine tube mounts. The airplane operator reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on a review of recorded data, the student pilot did not maintain adequate pitch control during his attempted recovery from the bounced landing, which resulted in a significant nose-down pitch attitude upon the second touchdown.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 7, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,269 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 16, 2024; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,557 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-M1A (piston); 2,269 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACT Waco TX at 9:45 pm
- Destination: ACT Waco TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 7,107 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from KACT
Weather report (METAR): METAR KACT 072151Z 19011KT 10SM CLR 31/22 A2964 RMK AO2 SLP028 T03110222=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on January 21, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statement (Student Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Statement (Flight Instructor) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Recorded Data (Excerpt) | data file | Download |
| 5 | Plots of Recorded Data | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Meteorological Data | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.