What happened
On 28 January 2023, a Cessna 210, registration ZS-LAP, departed from a private farm in Malelane, Mpumalanga, bound for Wonderboom Aerodrome in Gauteng. The flight was being conducted under Part 91 regulations in clear visual meteorological conditions.
As the aircraft entered the Wonderboom airspace, the pilot initiated standard pre-landing procedures, which included lowering the undercarriage. However, air traffic control instructed the pilot to enter an orbit to allow another aircraft to land first. During this holding pattern, the pilot retracted the landing gear. When the aircraft was cleared to proceed with the final approach for Runway 2．9, the pilot failed to re-extend the gear. The aircraft subsequently struck the runway on its belly, scraping along the surface until it came to a stop. Although the airport rescue and firefighting team deployed foam to mitigate fire risks, the pilot was able to exit the aircraft without assistance and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a current Class 2 medical certificate. At the time of the incident, the pilot had accumulated approximately 246 hours of total flight time, with only 9.1 hours logged on this specific aircraft type.
Technical reviews of the aircraft's maintenance history showed that the Cessna 210 had undergone its last 100-hour inspection earlier in 2022, and the maintenance organization involved held valid SACAA approval. The investigation also verified that the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Registration were both in effect at the time of the occurrence.