What happened
On 27 July 2023, a student pilot operating a Savannah S aircraft, registration ZU-IOZ, departed from Hoedswruit Civil Aerodrome (FAHT) in Limpopo Province for an initial solo training circuit. The flight was conducted under clear weather conditions and visual meteorological conditions. Prior to the solo departure, the student had completed five dual landing exercises with an instructor, who remained on the ground monitoring the flight via radio.
While the initial takeoff was successful, the student pilot's first approach to Runway 35 was too high, prompting a go-around. During the subsequent second approach, the aircraft maintained excessive engine power through the round-out phase. This resulted in the aircraft floating down the runway and a high-speed touchdown that caused the plane to bounce. Following a three-point landing, the pilot lost directional control, causing the aircraft to veer left, exit the runway, and strike a perimeter fence. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its propeller, nose gear, engine cowling, and wings, though the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the flight parameters and the aircraft's maintenance history. The investigation confirmed that the Savannah S was airworthy, with a valid authority to fly and a recent annual inspection completed in July 2023. The student pilot held a valid medical certificate and had logged 14.5 hours of flight time on this specific type. The investigation also reviewed video footage of the landing sequence to reconstruct the aircraft's movement during the approach and touchdown.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the aircraft approaching the runway at an excessive airspeed, which led to a deep landing and subsequent bouncing.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to execute a second go-around after recognizing the high approach speed.
- The loss of directional control occurred immediately following the high-speed impact with the runway surface.