Aircraft and Flight Information
On 27 January 2023, at 0542Z, a Cessna 172M Skyhawk (registration ZS-SNS) was involved in an accident during taxi at Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB), Gauteng Province. The aircraft was conducting a training flight under Part 141. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) by day prevailed. The student pilot was the sole occupant; no injuries or fatalities were reported. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Sequence of Events
Earlier that morning, a student pilot and a Grade II flight instructor reported at the Approved Training Organisation (ATO) facility for a pre-solo check flight. After a briefing and pre-flight inspection, the student pilot performed multiple circuits including simulated engine failures and touch-and-go landings. The instructor, satisfied with the performance, disembarked after landing and proceeded to monitor the subsequent initial solo (INSO) flight from the balcony.
Communicating with ground ATC on VHF 118.35 MHz, the student pilot received clearance to taxi via Bravo Delta to the holding point of Runway 11. Upon reaching the intersection, she observed two stationary Cessna 172 aircraft (ZS-EAD and ZS-SCE) queued on taxiway Delta, performing engine run-up checks. Judging the space behind ZS-EAD (number 2 in the queue) as insufficient, and without ATC approval, she decided to taxi past both aircraft to stop in front of ZS-SCE (number 1).
During the manoeuvre, the left wing tip of ZS-SNS struck the right-wing tip fairing of ZS-EAD. The aircraft then pivoted right toward taxiway lights. In avoiding the lights, the student pilot steered left, causing the left wing to strike the right-wing bottom surface of ZS-SCE and its rotating propeller, which severed the wing tip. ZS-SNS came to rest approximately 20 metres in front of ZS-SCE.
Aftermath
The student pilot applied the parking brake, shut down the engine, and disembarked unharmed. The crash alarm was activated, and the Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting team responded. ZS-EAD was not damaged; ZS-SCE showed no visible damage but required an engine shock load inspection. The stationary aircraft occupants were not injured.