Incident Overview
On 16 November 2005 at 1430Z, a Mooney M20J aircraft, registration ZS-LBU, operated by a private pilot, experienced a hard landing on Runway 19 at Hazyview Aerodrome in Mpumalanga. The aircraft sustained slight damage to the nose undersurface and propeller blades. There were no injuries to the pilot, the sole occupant.
Flight Details
The flight departed from Lanseria Aerodrome (FALA) bound for Hazyview Aerodrome (FAHW). The pilot had 294.2 total flying hours, with 235.6 hours on type. The weather at Hazyview was fine with a temperature of 27°C and a westerly surface wind at 10 knots.
Sequence of Events
The flight was uneventful until arrival at Hazyview. The pilot selected full flaps at an indicated airspeed of 60 knots for landing on Runway 19, which had a grass surface. During the landing, the pilot misjudged the approach, resulting in a hard landing. The nose landing gear collapsed and the propeller struck the ground.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained only slight damage to the nose undersurface and propeller blades. The pilot sustained no injuries. There were no injuries reported among the single person on board.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the incident was the pilot misjudging his approach during landing, resulting in a hard landing.