What happened
On October 31, 2013, a Cessna 172C, registration ZS-CTT, was engaged in a private navigational flight departing from New Tempe Aerodrome. The pilot, who was flying to accumulate hours toward a commercial license, had previously landed at Bultfontein and intended to return to his starting point. However, after departing Bultfontein, the pilot inadvertently turned onto the wrong heading.
As the flight progressed, the pilot encountered increasing headwinds and became uncertain of his exact position. Due to concerns regarding remaining fuel levels, the pilot decided to perform a precautionary landing at a private airstrip located on a farm near Palmietfontein. Upon touchdown, the pilot encountered a newly constructed runway surface consisting of heavy sand. The loose surface caused the aircraft to veer, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control, leading to a collision with a steel pole situated beside the runway. The impact resulted in damage to the right wing, though the pilot and passenger escaped without injury.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the aircraft was in a serviceable condition and had been properly maintained. Investigators noted that the aircraft was moved from the accident site to a nearby hangar before the investigation division could be notified, which prevented the collection of on-site photographs. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot held a valid private pilot license and medical certificate at the time of the occurrence.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unsuccessful precautionary landing on a sandy surface.
- A significant contributing factor was a lack of flight planning, which led to the pilot losing situational awareness regarding his position.
- The pilot's inability to communicate effectively with ATC due to poor radio reception contributed to the initial navigational error.
- The runway surface was newly constructed and highly sandy, which compromised the aircraft's stability during the landing roll.