What happened
On 22 June 2006, a Piper PA 31-350, registration ZS-JTX, was conducting a commercial charter flight from Chitwa-Chitwa Aerodrome to Mala-Mala Aerodrome. The flight was intended to collect additional passengers for a subsequent transfer to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Following an uneventful departure, the pilot commenced the final approach for Runway 16 at Mala-Mala. During the landing sequence, the pilot failed to deploy the aircraft's undercarriage, resulting in a wheels-up landing on the tarred runway. After the aircraft came to a stop, the pilot followed standard emergency procedures by deactivating electrical equipment and shutting off fuel supplies before evacuating the passengers. There were no injuries reported among the pilot or the passengers.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the operational circumstances and the aircraft's maintenance status. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid commercial license and a current medical certificate. The aircraft operator held a valid Air Operating Certificate, and the aircraft's maintenance records showed that the last Mandatory Periodic Inspection had been completed approximately 19 days prior to the incident. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness was valid at the time of the occurrence. The physical inspection of the aircraft revealed damage to the propellers, the flaps, and the underfuselage.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was that the pilot neglected to deploy the undercarriage.
- The pilot's decision-making was influenced by a desire to maintain the flight schedule, as the flight was running behind schedule for the day.
- The aircraft sustained structural damage to the underside and propulsion components due to the impact with the runway surface.