Narrative:

I was on my third cross country. Everything was great. I was pleased with my navigation. I got to my destination (ZZZ) and entered the traffic pattern for a left downwind for 7. I did get the AWOS. Looking back I should have taken runway xx. I tried to land twice on yy. It rocked my confidence a little. Then someone on unicom radioed 'winds from 220 at 6'. I responded 'thank you; I will change' or something like that. Anyway; I entered a right downwind for xx; still a little shaken. I called base and final. I was not 100% confident at that point. But I set it up and tried to land. I bounced a little then decided to go around.well; at that point I felt bad. I thought can I not land this plane? Like ever? So I radioed back 'Y'all have a good day; I'm out of here' turned to the north and then really began to worry. Will I make it back home? Will I run out of gas? What if I can't land this airplane at all? Just a thousand questions went through my head. Anyway; I was about two miles east of ZZZ and I thought; 'I really need to land at that airport. I can't go back without landing at ZZZ. I need to turn around. No; you tried it two times or so and today is just not your day; go home'.then I remembered ZZZ2 is right there. I could go there; stop and take a break. I had just landed there yesterday evening and did three very good full stop landings. So it is close; safe; comfortable; and a good choice to calm down. I got about 4 miles out from ZZZ2 and radioed the tower and after some miscommunication due to my inexperience the tower advised 'cleared to land right hand for the runway'; or something like that. At this point I was ok. A little miscommunication; but that's ok.then I advised entering right downwind for the runway. I don't think the tower said anything. I thought that I was supposed to let them know where I was. Then I advised 'turning right base for the runway and just so you know; I am not 100% on my right hand traffic patterns. I have about 80 to 100 total landings. Five or so are right hand. I have communicated with three or four different control towers total with about ten total communications'. That's when he very sternly corrected me 'are you talking to traffic; or tower?' I said; 'traffic?' the tower controller replied 'I'm the tower; you are talking to me! If you expect to fly or be flying you better get your stuff straight!'at this point; I was shaken again. I was on final; I knew I had to compensate for the unfamiliar right hand pattern. Trying to do the math: the angle; the speed; the flaps; wind heading; etc... And ATC was yelling at me. I was so scared I didn't know if I should call my base leg or what. I do remember trying to do my flaps right; my throttle right; my speed. Then am I too low or too high? Anyway I was getting closer to the runway.I touched down. I skipped; then I tried one more time to just land. Nope; it skipped again. Then I knew I was in trouble. I knew that it was bad. I had to go around. So; full throttle; nose down; build speed. The last; or next to the last skip; kind of shot me over to the right at 20 to 30 degrees; I really don't know if a wind gust helped. Well I was on course for the big #5 sign. I knew that I had to build speed so I would not stall. But; I was headed straight for the #5 sign. So I built speed until I thought that it was imperative to pull up to avoid the big sign. And then I hit it!I held onto the climb. I radioed in 'I took out the sign' or something like that. The tower asked 'are you ok? Can you fly the plane? Is the plane ok? I said 'yes. I am ok. And the plane is flying great'. The tower said 'I want you to fly over so the fire department can inspect the landing gear'. I thought great! Not only can I not land today; but now I get to try it with no landing gear! Super!! So I asked if I was too high or too low; too fast or too slow. The tower said 'the fire department said it looks good'.I advised; 'I am a student pilot. I just triedto land at ZZZ three or so times and I couldn't. So I need help! Please if I can; can I land left downwind for zz?' the tower said 'if you think that will help sure'. At this point his attitude had changed 180 degrees. He was now very helpful. I replied 'yes sir; it would absolutely help.' so I set it up; the way I was taught: did my proper timing; speed; spacing; etc. I came in and I was very proud of myself. I landed it great! When the front tire touched down I knew it was messed up or flat.anyway this was not a good day. I did learn many things that day. Wind direction is very important. Wind velocity is very important. If you bounce; once; go around. More practice on right hand traffic pattern. If you have someone yelling at you and it is not life or death it is better to handle it safer; on the ground. Don't let them rattle you. Speak up and let them know. It could cost someone their life! Well; I am sorry this happened. I hope this report will help someone in the future. And make aviation safer for everyone.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A very inexperienced student pilot recounted a harrowing cross country which included multiple go arounds; striking an airport sign while airborne; a disquieting give and take with a Local Controller and; ultimately a stressful landing with a damaged nose gear.

Narrative: I was on my third cross country. Everything was great. I was pleased with my navigation. I got to my destination (ZZZ) and entered the traffic pattern for a left downwind for 7. I did get the AWOS. Looking back I should have taken Runway XX. I tried to land twice on YY. It rocked my confidence a little. Then someone on UNICOM radioed 'winds from 220 at 6'. I responded 'thank you; I will change' or something like that. Anyway; I entered a right downwind for XX; still a little shaken. I called base and final. I was not 100% confident at that point. But I set it up and tried to land. I bounced a little then decided to go around.Well; at that point I felt bad. I thought can I not land this plane? Like ever? So I radioed back 'Y'all have a good day; I'm out of here' turned to the north and then really began to worry. Will I make it back home? Will I run out of gas? What if I can't land this airplane at all? Just a thousand questions went through my head. Anyway; I was about two miles east of ZZZ and I thought; 'I really need to land at that airport. I can't go back without landing at ZZZ. I need to turn around. No; you tried it two times or so and today is just not your day; GO HOME'.Then I remembered ZZZ2 is right there. I could go there; stop and take a break. I had just landed there yesterday evening and did three very good full stop landings. So it is close; safe; comfortable; and a good choice to calm down. I got about 4 miles out from ZZZ2 and radioed the Tower and after some miscommunication due to my inexperience the Tower advised 'cleared to land right hand for the runway'; or something like that. At this point I was OK. A little miscommunication; but that's OK.Then I advised entering right downwind for the runway. I don't think the Tower said anything. I thought that I was supposed to let them know where I was. Then I advised 'turning right base for the runway and just so you know; I am not 100% on my right hand traffic patterns. I have about 80 to 100 total landings. Five or so are right hand. I have communicated with three or four different Control Towers total with about ten total communications'. That's when he very sternly corrected me 'are you talking to traffic; or Tower?' I said; 'traffic?' The Tower Controller replied 'I'm the Tower; you are talking to me! If you expect to fly or be flying you better get your stuff straight!'At this point; I was shaken again. I was on final; I knew I had to compensate for the unfamiliar right hand pattern. Trying to do the math: the angle; the speed; the flaps; wind heading; etc... And ATC was yelling at me. I was so scared I didn't know if I should call my base leg or what. I do remember trying to do my flaps right; my throttle right; my speed. Then am I too low or too high? Anyway I was getting closer to the runway.I touched down. I skipped; then I tried one more time to just land. Nope; it skipped again. Then I knew I was in trouble. I knew that it was bad. I had to go around. So; full throttle; nose down; build speed. The last; or next to the last skip; kind of shot me over to the right at 20 to 30 degrees; I really don't know if a wind gust helped. Well I was on course for the big #5 sign. I knew that I had to build speed so I would not stall. But; I was headed straight for the #5 sign. So I built speed until I thought that it was imperative to pull up to avoid the big sign. And then I hit it!I held onto the climb. I radioed in 'I took out the sign' or something like that. The Tower asked 'Are you OK? Can you fly the plane? Is the plane OK? I said 'yes. I am OK. And the plane is flying great'. The Tower said 'I want you to fly over so the Fire Department can inspect the landing gear'. I thought great! Not only can I not land today; but now I get to try it with no landing gear! Super!! So I asked if I was too high or too low; too fast or too slow. The Tower said 'the Fire Department said it looks good'.I advised; 'I am a Student Pilot. I just triedto land at ZZZ three or so times and I couldn't. So I need help! Please if I can; can I land left downwind for ZZ?' The Tower said 'if you think that will help sure'. At this point his attitude had changed 180 degrees. He was now very helpful. I replied 'yes sir; it would absolutely help.' So I set it up; the way I was taught: did my proper timing; speed; spacing; etc. I came in and I was very proud of myself. I landed it great! When the front tire touched down I knew it was messed up or flat.Anyway this was not a good day. I did learn many things that day. Wind direction is very important. Wind velocity is very important. If you bounce; once; go around. More practice on right hand traffic pattern. If you have someone yelling at you and it is not life or death it is better to handle it safer; on the ground. Don't let them rattle you. Speak up and let them know. It could cost someone their life! Well; I am sorry this happened. I hope this report will help someone in the future. And make aviation safer for everyone.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.