What happened
On 17 September 2021, a Piper PA-28-140, registration ZS-ELH, departed Grand Central Aerodrome (FAGC) for a routine hour-building flight. The flight was intended to follow a route to the Grasmere Golf Alfa Victor beacon and return to the departure airfield. The pilot was operating the aircraft alone under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
Upon returning to Grand Central, the pilot found that the tower had closed for the day and no local automated weather information (ATIS) was available. Seeking weather updates, the pilot tuned into the O.R. Tambel International Airport ATIS, which reported a wind of 090 degrees at 15 knots. Believing these conditions were suitable, the pilot proceeded with the approach to Runway 35.
During the final approach, the pilot noted that the controls felt stiff and the aircraft's nose drifted to the left. The aircraft appeared to be sinking rapidly. The landing was characterized by a hard touchdown and a subsequent bounce after the right wing struck the ground. During the second impact, the propeller struck the ground, causing the aircraft to veer left and exit the runway, coming to a stop five meters from the edge.
The investigation
The investigation examined the weather conditions at the time of the accident compared to the information available to the pilot. While the pilot relied on data from a different airport, the actual weather at Grand Central featured wind gusts of up to 24.5 knots. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training background and the operational limits of the aircraft.
Findings
- The pilot relied on weather information from O.R. Tambo International Airport, which did not accurately reflect the conditions at Grand Central.
- The actual wind at the accident site included gusts of 24.5 knots, which exceeded both the manufacturer's recommended limits and the training organization's 15-knot crosswind threshold.
- The pilot experienced a loss of directional control during the landing phase due to the impact of these unexpected gusts.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller and the right wing tip.
Safety action
Following the incident, the pilot's training organization advised the pilot to utilize go-around procedures more decisively when encountering difficult conditions. The organization also committed to increasing the frequency of go-around training for its pilots.