Incident Overview
On 7 December 2021 at 1615Z, a Cessna T210M aircraft registered as ZS-LUB departed Mossel Bay on a private flight under Part 91 visual flight rules. The intended routing included a fuel stop at Kimberley Aerodrome (FAKM) with the final destination being Waterval Safari Private Airstrip, located south of Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province. The flight to FAKM was uneventful.
Sequence of Events
The pilot, who held a valid Private Pilot Licence and had 11 hours on type, overflew Waterval Safari Airstrip three times to inspect the runway condition before landing. The pilot noted a heap of sand on the threshold of Runway 28 (RWY28). The approach was stable, but the landing surface was uneven and the pilot was facing the sun. The aircraft touched down on the main wheels on soft sand, which rapidly reduced speed. The nose gear then jerked downward, collapsed, and detached. The aircraft skidded approximately 25 metres before nosing over and coming to rest inverted on the gravel runway about 30 metres from the initial point of impact. One passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Post-accident Findings
The pilot confirmed that no mechanical anomalies or weather conditions contributed to the accident. The 1.2 km gravel runway had been recently prepared, and a 50-metre heap of sand was placed on the left side of the RWY28 threshold.
Probable Cause
The aircraft touched down before the runway threshold and the speed was abruptly reduced by hard uneven soil during landing, resulting in the aircraft being jerked forward, breaking its nose gear assembly before coming to rest in an inverted position.
Safety Message
The report recommends that pilots ensure they conduct thorough runway inspections prior to landing at unfamiliar aerodromes. No specific safety actions were taken by the operator.