Accident Details
On 17 September 2021, at 1350Z, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration ZS-FTS, was conducting circuit training at Lanseria International Aerodrome (FALA) in Gauteng Province. The aircraft was operated under Part 141 training rules. Weather conditions were fine with light variable winds at 3 knots and a temperature of 24°C. The aircraft had accumulated 6,658.7 total hours.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee (ZS-FTS), sustained substantial damage. The pilot, a 20-year-old female holding a Student Pilot Licence (SPL), had 32.4 hours on type. The flight initially included a flight instructor who disembarked after three circuits, allowing the student to conduct a solo consolidation flight.
Sequence of Events
After receiving clearance from air traffic control (ATC), the student pilot commenced takeoff from Runway 07. The takeoff, circuit, and final approach were uneventful. During the landing flare, the student believed the landing gear had contacted the runway but it had not. The aircraft touched down hard and bounced. The student attempted a go-around but the aircraft had lost significant airspeed and stalled, resulting in a second bounce. The aircraft impacted the ground hard with the nose gear first, causing the nose gear to break off and the propeller blades to strike the ground. The aircraft came to a stop on Runway 07 in a nose-down position due to the broken nose gear.
Post-Accident Actions
The student pilot informed ATC that she could not open the doors. ATC activated the crash alarm, and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) personnel responded and assisted the student out of the aircraft. The student sustained minor injuries and received medical attention. The aviation training organization (ATO) implemented remedial training for the student, including simulator sessions covering emergency scenarios, decision-making training, and observer sessions. The ATO adopted these measures for all new and existing student pilots. No mechanical defects or weather factors were identified.