What happened
On the morning of 9 December 2023, a student pilot was conducting a solo training flight at Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB) in a Cessna 172P Skyhawk, registration ZS-SDA. The flight, performed under Part 141 training regulations, was intended to consist of touch-and-go landing exercises.
During the flight, the pilot experienced significant communication difficulties due to a defective headset microphone that frequently slipped away from her mouth. While attempting to rectify the audio issue by adjusting the radio and audio jack, the pilot was on the extended downwind leg. During this period, she reported her final approach for Runway 29 to Air Traffic Control, but received no direct response, though she overheard ATC querying the position of the aircraft following her.
As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, the pilot reduced power to initiate a roundout. However, the approach speed was excessive, causing the aircraft to balloon and strike the runway hard. This triggered a series of bounces; the second touchdown was even more forceful than the first. In an attempt to execute a go-around, the pilot applied power, but the aircraft's nose pitched up as the airspeed approached stalling speed. The aircraft subsequently struck the runway a third time, impacting with the nose gear first. The gear collapsed, the propeller struck the runway, and the aircraft skidded off the left side of the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose section, propeller, and landing gear.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the pilot's training history and the technical state of the equipment. The investigation established that the student pilot had exceeded the recommended 30 hours of flight time before being cleared for solo flight, necessitating a remedial training program and a formal assessment by the Chief Flight Instructor. It was also noted that the training flight in question had not been recorded in the pilot's logbook, which is a violation of civil aviation regulations.
Regarding the aircraft, the investigation found that the communication issues were caused by a defective headset rather than a malfunction of the aircraft's radio system. The investigation also noted that the aircraft had a history of previous nose gear damage incidents.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an excessive approach speed, which led to the aircraft floating and subsequent heavy bounces.
- The pilot utilized incorrect techniques during the landing and the subsequent attempt to recover via a go-around.
- A defective headset prevented clear communication with Air Traffic Control.
- The student pilot had surpassed the 30-hour threshold for solo flight prior to the accident, though a remedial program had been implemented.
Safety action
Following the incident, the training organization's safety manager initiated measures to mitigate risks associated with landing incidents. These include:
- Requiring all students to provide their own headsets to ensure reliable communication.
- Implementing more rigorous checks for balloon recovery during initial solo flight assessments.
- Introducing incremental checks that continue through to the completion of the Private Pilot License (PPL).