Accident Details
On Monday, 7 October 2024, at approximately 1030Z, a Jabiru 400 aircraft, registration ZU-CMZ, was conducting a private flight from Kitty Hawk Aerodrome (FAKT) to Rhino Park Aerodrome, both located in Gauteng province, South Africa. The flight was performed under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) by day and in accordance with Part 94 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011. The pilot, who held a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and a Class 2 aviation medical certificate with no restrictions, reported an uneventful flight from FAKT to Rhino Park.
Upon arrival, the aircraft approached Runway 27 at a speed of 65 knots with full flaps deployed. The pilot stated that she flared late, resulting in a hard landing where the nose gear contacted the ground first, followed by the propeller striking the runway. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway approximately 300 metres from the threshold. The surface wind was reported as 280° at 10 knots with visibility greater than 10 kilometres.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained minor damage to the nose gear and propeller tips. Both occupants (pilot and one passenger) were uninjured. No fatalities or injuries to persons on the ground were reported.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft, a Jabiru 400 (serial number 0006), was issued a Certificate of Release to Service (CRS) on 29 August 2024 at 1278.4 airframe hours, valid until 31 October 2025 or 1378.4 airframe hours. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated 1291.4 airframe hours, indicating 13 hours of operation since the last annual inspection. The aircraft held a valid Authority-to-Fly (ATF) certificate issued on 28 August 2024, expiring 31 October 2025, and was deemed airworthy prior to dispatch. The Certificate of Registration (C of R) had been issued to the present owner on 13 January 2010.
Pilot Information
The pilot, a 24-year-old female, held a Private Pilot Licence initially issued on 20 March 2020 and renewed on 23 May 2023, valid until 31 May 2025. She had accumulated 78.7 total hours on the Jabiru 400 type out of 162.9 total flying hours over the past 90 days. Her total aeronautical experience was 30 days and 5.9 hours. The pilot's Class 2 aviation medical certificate was issued on 29 January 2024 and was valid until 31 January 2029 with no restrictions.
Probable Cause
The pilot flared late during landing, which resulted in the nose gear impacting the ground hard, followed by propeller strikes on the ground. No contributing factors were identified. The weather conditions were not considered a factor, as the wind was 280° at 10 knots.
Safety Actions
No safety actions or recommendations were issued as part of this limited investigation.