What happened
On 2 November 2021, a Mooney M20G, registration ZS-FRO, departed Nelspruit Aerodrome in Mpumalanga for a private flight to the Northern Cape. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been filed for the journey.
As the pilot approached Runway 34 at Douglas Backhouse Aerodrome, the initial parameters of the approach, including speed and altitude, appeared appropriate. However, during the flare, the pilot perceived the aircraft was too high above the runway surface. This resulted in a delayed touchdown, during which the main landing gear struck the runway with significant force, causing the aircraft to bounce.
In an attempt to abort the landing and initiate a go-around, the pilot applied additional power. The aircraft bounced once more upon contact with the runway, at which point the pilot lost directional control. The aircraft veered toward the left side of the runway and struck a perimeter fence pole with its left wing. The impact caused the aircraft to pivot 90 degrees to the right, coming to a stop parallel to the fence. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, nose gear, and left wing, though the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing and the mechanical state of the aircraft. Review of the aircraft's logbooks and defect reports revealed no history of technical issues regarding the engine, airframe, or individual components. Furthermore, the investigation established that the weather conditions were not a contributing factor to the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the aircraft was flared too high, which triggered a hard touchdown and subsequent bouncing.
- The application of power during the bounce led to a loss of control and the subsequent runway excursion.
- The pilot had 136.8 total flying hours, with 63.0 hours specifically on the Mooney M20G.