What happened
On the morning of 5 March 2025, a private flight operating under Part 94 regulations transitioned from Kitty Hawk Airfield to Panorama Airfield in Gauteng. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions. After departing Kitty Hawk, the pilot joined the landing circuit for Runway 20 at Panorama Airfield using unmanned joining procedures.
During the final approach, the aircraft was configured with full flaps and traveling at 72 knots. As the pilot reduced engine power, the rate of descent increased. The Sling 4 TSI, registration ZU-PUR, made contact with the grass runway with the nose wheel first. This impact caused the nose gear strut to fail, leading the propeller to strike the ground. The aircraft subsequently skidded along the runway surface before coming to a rest on the right side of the strip. The pilot was able to disembark from the aircraft without injury, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, engine cowling, and nose gear.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the airworthiness of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a current medical certificate. The aircraft's maintenance records showed that the last annual inspection had been completed in October 2024, and the aircraft held a valid Authority-to-fly.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a hard landing characterized by the aircraft impacting the runway surface with the nose wheel first.
- A contributing factor to the structural failure was poor landing technique.
- Environmental conditions were not a factor in the occurrence.