What happened
On 29 August 2022, a flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting a training flight near Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB) in a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration ZS-SPT. The flight, part of a Part 141 training program, was intended to include maneuvers such as stall recovery and spin avoidance.
After completing standard pre-flight inspections and receiving takeoff clearance from Air Traffic Control, the aircraft departed Runway 29. During the initial climb, at approximately 500 feet above ground level, the instructor observed a significant drop in airspeed and engine RPM. The instructor took control of the aircraft and attempted to return to the aerodrome, but as engine power could not be recovered, a Mayday call was transmitted.
Realizing a return to the runway was impossible, the instructor identified a nearby road for an emergency landing. During the descent, the aircraft's right wing struck a streetlamp pole, causing the wing and main landing gear to separate from the fuselage. The aircraft came to rest on the right side of a public road west of the aerodrome. The two occupants sustained minor injuries, while the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the engine components. Post-accident testing of the engine on a test bench demonstrated that the engine was capable of operating at full power. Analysis of the fuel system, including samples from the left tank and the gascolator, showed no evidence of contamination or mechanical defects in the fuel delivery lines.
Investigators also reviewed maintenance records, noting that the aircraft had undergone recent 50-hour and 100-hour inspections and was compliant with all relevant airworthiness directives. Meteorological data confirmed that weather conditions were clear and appropriate for flight, and the investigation ruled out carburetor icing as a factor due to the high ambient temperature.