Accident Overview
On Monday, 27 September 2021, at 1445Z, a student pilot intended to conduct a solo training flight in a Cessna 172H aircraft (registration ZS-EPO) from Nelspruit Aerodrome (FANS) to the general flying area. The student pilot, under supervision of a flight instructor, performed a pre-flight inspection and found nothing unusual. The aircraft was refueled to capacity with 42 gallons of Avgas LL100 fuel. The flight was planned to last approximately one hour.
Taxi Event
The student pilot boarded the aircraft and started the engine without issue. About 10 minutes after the pre-flight inspection, he released the park brake and began taxiing toward the runway. During taxi, he applied the toe brakes to test them and noticed no response—he was unable to stop the aircraft, which had gained momentum. Despite continued application of the toe brakes, the pilot could not stop. While preoccupied with the brakes, he did not notice the aircraft's proximity to a concrete wall ahead. The aircraft struck the wall with the nose section and left wing, resulting in substantial damage to those areas. The student pilot was not injured.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The student pilot, male, 48 years old, held a valid Student Pilot Licence (Aeroplane). His logbook showed a total of 57.6 flight hours, with 10.4 hours on the Cessna 172H. The aircraft's last 100-hour mandatory periodic inspection was carried out on 29 June 2021 at 7276.5 airframe hours. A Certificate of Release to Service was issued on 30 June 2021, valid until 29 June 2022 or 7376.5 hours, whichever came first.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, the instructor tested the aircraft brakes and found them 100% operational, with no sign of hydraulic fluid leakage.
Probable Cause
The cause of the accident was due to the student pilot not applying sufficient pressure on the toe brakes.
Safety Action Taken
The student pilot received remedial training on Lesson 5 (“Taxiing”), including both theory and practical aspects.