What happened
On 22 July 2005, a Cessna C172, registration ZS-MYS, was engaged in a solo training flight originating from Wonderboom Aerodrome. The student pilot had departed the aerodrome to fly within the Pretoria general flying area before returning to the airfield for landing.
During the short final approach to Runway 29, the aircraft encountered sudden wind shear. This atmospheric disturbance caused the right wing of the aircraft to drop. In an attempt to correct the deviation, the pilot applied left rudder; however, this over-compensation resulted in the aircraft veering left and departing the runway surface. During the excursion, the propeller made contact with the ground. There were no injuries reported following the incident.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight conditions, the pilot's actions, and the airworthiness of the aircraft. At the time of the occurrence, the weather was reported as fine with good visibility. The aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness, and its most recent mandatory periodic inspection had been completed approximately two months prior to the incident.
The training organization involved held a valid Air Operating Certificate, and a recent SACAA audit of the organization had yielded no major findings. Following the event, the student pilot received a debriefing from the Chief Flying Instructor and subsequently completed four circuits under instructor supervision.