What happened
On 18 August 2013, a Yak 18T aircraft, registration ZU-CFS, was conducting a private flight from a landing strip near the Vaal Dam to Brakpan-Benoni aerodrome. The flight proceeded without incident until the final stages of the approach to runway 18. While the pilot successfully configured the aircraft with full flaps, the landing gear was not extended. This resulted in a wheels-up landing on the asphalt runway, where the aircraft skidded for approximately 152 meters. The impact caused damage to the propeller, the flaps, and the lower portion of the fuselage, but the pilot was able to exit the aircraft unassisted without injury.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the aircraft was well-maintained and met all regulatory requirements for flight. Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident were favorable, with clear visibility and light winds. The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the approach phase. While the pilot's operating handbook requires a specific sequence of landing checks—including verifying the landing gear is down—the investigation found that the pilot had completed several other checklist items but missed the undercarriage extension.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a wheels-up landing.
- The pilot experienced a distraction during the final approach, though the specific source of this distraction could not be identified.
- It is believed the pilot may have performed landing checks in a non-sequential manner, leading to the failure to confirm the aircraft's landing configuration before touchdown.