What happened
On 3 February 2026, a Piper Warrior III PA28-161, registration 9M-NKD, was involved in a serious incident during a solo training flight at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang. The aircraft, operated by Air Adventure Flying Club, was being flown by a student pilot performing a second solo circuit and landing exercise.
During a scheduled touch-and-go landing, the aircraft underwent a sequence of bounces on the runway. Following these bounces, the nose of the aircraft pitched forward. The student pilot determined that a go-around was no longer a safe option and allowed the aircraft to settle. This resulted in a heavy impact on the nose landing gear. Despite the intensity of the impact, the student pilot was able to taxi the aircraft back to the hangar without further incident. No injuries were reported.
The investigation
An investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Malaysia revealed significant mechanical damage to the aircraft. Post-flight inspections identified a burst nose-wheel tyre, characterized by extensive shredding of the rubber carcass. The nose landing gear assembly also showed evidence of structural failure due to the force of the impact. Additionally, the propeller blades sustained damage, including curling at the tips and deep scarring, consistent with a ground strike while the engine was producing power.
Investigators also noted a delay in the notification process. While the operator submitted a report to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, the AAIB was not notified of the incident until six days later, following a report from the aircraft's insurer.
Findings
- The aircraft was properly maintained and held valid certificates of airworthiness and registration.
- The student pilot was properly licensed and authorized for the solo flight.
- The incident was triggered by a series of bounces during the landing phase.
- The nose landing gear assembly suffered structural bending and the nose tyre experienced catastrophic failure.
- The propeller sustained significant damage from contact with the runway surface.
- The aircraft operator failed to notify the AAIB directly within the timeframe required by Malaysian Civil Aviation Regulations.
Safety action
- The aircraft operator is required to review and strengthen its internal procedures for reporting occurrences to ensure the AAIB is notified promptly and directly, in accordance with regulatory requirements.