What happened
On 23 December 2022, a Cessna 210M, registration ZS-KEC, was operating a private flight from El Mirador Airfield in KwaZulu-Natal to Port Alfred Aerodrome in the Eastern Cape. The flight, carrying a pilot and one passenger, proceeded under visual meteorological conditions.
While the flight was initially uneventful, the aircraft encountered difficulties during the landing phase at Port Alfred. As the pilot touched down on the threshold of Runway 25, the aircraft veered to the right. This maneuver caused the nose landing gear to collapse, leading the propeller blades and the right wing tip to make contact with the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically affecting the engine cowling, propeller, nose wheel, and right wing tip. There were no fatalities and no injuries reported.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the operational environment at Port Alfred Aerodrome. The investigation focused on the pilot's awareness of runway changes and the physical state of the runway markings.
Investigators noted that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) had been active since early December 2022, indicating that the threshold for Runway 25 had been displaced due to maintenance work. The pilot reported being unaware of this specific NOTAM and noted a perceived lack of visible markings on the threshold to indicate the 350-meter displacement. However, the investigation established that runway markings indicating the displaced threshold were present a few meters from the point of impact.
Findings
- The aircraft landed short of the displaced portion of Runway 25.
- The pilot was unaware of the active NOTAM regarding the displaced threshold.
- The collapse of the nose gear and subsequent ground contact by the propeller and wing tip were direct results of the short landing.