What happened
On 30 June 2022, a solo navigation flight conducted by a student pilot ended in an accident at Grand Central Aerodrome (FAGC) in Gauteng. The flight, operating under Part 141 training provisions, involved a Cessna 172M, registration ZS-JBP, which had departed from FAGC to perform touch-and-go landings at Rustenburg and Pilanesberg aerodromes before returning to the origin.
During the final approach to Runway 17, the pilot encountered what was described as a sudden disturbance. As the aircraft passed the runway threshold, the pilot reduced power to idle but realized the aircraft was at an insufficient altitude. In an attempt to execute a go-around, the pilot applied power and pulled back on the control column. This maneuver caused the nose to pitch up excessively. To compensate and regain airspeed, the pilot pushed the control column forward, but the aircraft subsequently struck the runway with significant force. The impact caused substantial damage to the engine cradle, firewall, propeller blades, and nose gear oleo, while the rudder counterweight became detached from the aircraft.
Following the impact, the pilot taxied the aircraft to a parking bay without immediately notifying air traffic control or requesting emergency services. The damage was only brought to the attention of authorities after an aircraft maintenance engineer noticed the wreckage while the plane taxied past a hangar.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation examined the pilot's credentials, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the environmental conditions at the time of the occurrence. The pilot was a student with approximately 64.6 total flying hours. Records indicated the Cessna 172M was airworthy, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and no outstanding maintenance defects reported.
While the pilot reported experiencing turbulence on short final, meteorological data from the South African Weather Service indicated light and variable winds with no widespread gusty conditions. Investigators noted that any perceived wind shift was likely a highly localized event, such as a dust devil.
Findings
- The aircraft was flying at an insufficient altitude during the approach.
- During the transition to a go-around, the pilot's input caused the nose to pitch up too high, leading to a stall and a subsequent hard impact.
- The pilot's lack of experience contributed to the improper management of the aircraft during the critical phase of the flight.
Safety action
Following the incident, the student pilot underwent remedial training, focusing on stall recovery procedures and circuit training under the supervision of a Grade 2 instructor and the chief flying instructor.