What happened
On 13 February 2026, a training flight involving a flight instructor and a student pilot resulted in a serious incident at Wonderboom Airport (FAWB) in Gauteng. The aircraft, a Piper PA28-140 Cherokee registered ZS-EOZ, was performing circuit training under visual meteorological conditions.
After completing three successful touch-and-go landings on Runway 24, the student pilot, acting as the pilot flying, attempted a fourth landing. During the approach, the aircraft was configured with third-stage flaps while maintaining a speed of approximately 85 mph. The aircraft passed the runway threshold at roughly 20 feet above the ground and experienced a period of floating. The aircraft subsequently touched down deep on the runway with the nose gear wheel striking the surface first. This impact caused the lower portion of the nose gear and the fork to break away, leading the propeller blades to strike the runway. The aircraft skidded along the surface before coming to a halt near the threshold of Runway 06. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries among the two occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the aircraft's maintenance and personnel records. The investigation confirmed that both the flight instructor and the student pilot held valid licenses and medical certificates appropriate for the training operation. The aircraft, ZS-EOZ, was found to be in compliance with maintenance requirements, having undergone a mandatory periodic inspection shortly before the incident. Weather conditions at the time of the occurrence were determined to be clear with no contributing impact on the flight.
Findings
- The aircraft was unstable on final approach for Runway 24.
- The primary cause of the damage was the nose wheel striking the runway surface first.
- The incident was attributed to poor landing technique.