What happened
On the afternoon of 21 February 2024, a Cessna 172K, registration ZS-FJU, was conducting a training flight from Rand Aerodrome to Baragwanath Aerodrome in Gauteng Province. The flight, operated under Part 141 regulations, involved a flight instructor and a student pilot performing touch-and-go landing exercises.
During the third circuit of the landing pattern, the aircraft flew extremely low, approximately one meter above the runway surface. An eyewitness observed the aircraft climb steeply at the end of the runway, followed by a sudden drop in engine noise and a sharp right-hand turn. The aircraft then descended rapidly with the engine revving at high power, impacting the ground near a gravel road approximately 211 meters from the Runway 1 and 13 threshold. The impact was severe, causing the aircraft to be destroyed and resulting in 2 fatalities.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses to reconstruct the flight path. The investigation established that the aircraft was performing a maneuver similar to a wingover. While the aircraft's engine was producing significant power at the moment of impact, the downward momentum from the maneuver was too great for the pilot to recover. The investigation also confirmed that the aircraft was in a serviceable condition with valid airworthiness and registration certificates prior to the accident.
Findings
- The flight instructor and student pilot lost control of the aircraft following the execution of a wingover maneuver.
- The pilot failed to pull out of the descent in time to prevent the impact.
- The crew failed to utilize the HASELL checklist, which is required for such maneuvers to ensure safety and accuracy.
- The force of the impact was so extreme that the engine and propeller hub separated from the airframe, and the cabin area was crushed.