What happened
On 09 December 2005, a student pilot was conducting his first solo training flight in a Cheetah, registration ZU-DPZ, departing from Kimberley Aerodrome in the Northern Cape. The flight was intended to be a short circuit, returning to the same aerodrome.
During the landing phase on runway 20, the pilot approached at an indicated airspeed of 60 mph with 10 degrees of flaps selected. The aircraft touched down further down the runway than intended. As the aircraft decelerated, a crosswind from the left caused the aircraft to weather-cock, leading to a loss of directional control. In response, the pilot immediately initiated a go-around by applying full power. During this maneuver, the left wing and propeller struck a small shrub located on the left side of the runway. Following the contact, the aircraft climbed away without further difficulty, and the pilot completed the circuit before landing safely on runway 20.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance status and the environmental conditions at the time of the event. Meteorological data indicated fine weather with a temperature of 15ºC and a south-southeast wind of 10 knots.
Records showed that the aircraft's last mandatory periodic inspection (MPI) had been completed on 08 December 2005, with only 1.2 flight hours accumulated since that certification. The operator, Kimberley Flying School, held a valid and accredited Air Operators Certificate. While no external damage was immediately apparent, a detailed inspection following the incident revealed slight damage to the propeller hub.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was crosswind conditions which induced weather-cocking and subsequent loss of directional control during the landing roll.
- The pilot's decision to execute an immediate go-around prevented a more serious runway excursion.