What happened
On 9 November 2021, a private flight departing from Mossel Bay Aerodrome (FAMO) in the Western Cape resulted in an aircraft excursion. The flight, operated under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) as a Part 91 operation, involved a Bonanza K35 with registration ZS-IJL. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger for a local flight intended to land at the same aerodrome from which it had departed.
During the landing phase at approximately 1735Z, the aircraft was on approach at 70 knots. Upon touchdown on Runway 10, the aircraft experienced a bounce. The pilot was unable to regain control of the aircraft's direction in time, causing the plane to veer toward the right side of the runway. The sequence of events led to the collapse of the nose wheel and the propeller striking the ground. The aircraft eventually came to a stop approximately one meter from the edge of the runway. There were no injuries to the two occupants, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation, based on information provided by the pilot, established that the aircraft's weight and balance were within permitted limits and that the aircraft had sufficient fuel endurance for the flight. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported as fine, with calm winds and a temperature of 18°C.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was a bounced landing during the touchdown phase.
- The pilot was unable to recover the aircraft's path timeously following the bounce.
- The mechanical failure of the nose wheel and the propeller strike were direct consequences of the aircraft veering off the runway centerline.