What happened
On the morning of 20 April 2026, a student pilot departed Port Alfred Airport (FAPA) in Eastern Cape Province for a solo navigational training flight. Operating a Piper Cherokee PA-28-180 with registration ZS-ISU, the aircraft took off from Runway 28L under visual meteorological conditions. During the initial climb, the pilot observed abnormal yawing behavior and engine RPM inconsistencies when reducing power. After joining the downwind leg, the aircraft exhibited a persistent rightward yaw that resisted correction via rudder input. Unable to maintain a straight path for a landing on Runway 28L, the pilot diverted to Runway 28R. Upon touchdown, the aircraft veered sharply to the right, exiting the runway surface and coming to rest in the vegetation adjacent to the airfield. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the nose gear and wings, while the pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID conducted a limited occurrence investigation, relying on information provided by the affected parties. Examiners inspected the aircraft post-accident and noted that the rudder trim tab was set fully to the right. A walk-around confirmed collapsed nose oleo struts, a slightly bent propeller, and damage to the wing leading and trailing edges. Engine inspections, including ground run tests on a test bench, revealed no mechanical abnormalities or fuel issues. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials, confirming a valid Student Pilot Licence with sufficient type experience, and verified that the aircraft held valid airworthiness certificates and had adequate maintenance history prior to the flight.
Findings
The primary causal factor was the incorrect rudder trim configuration prior to take-off. The trim was set to the right, causing the aircraft to yaw in that direction during the downwind leg and preventing effective directional control during landing. This misconfiguration led to a loss of control upon touchdown, forcing the aircraft off the runway. Contributing factors included the pilot's failure to verify the trim tab setting against the standard pre-takeoff checklist procedures outlined in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook. Weather conditions were clear and did not contribute to the accident.
Safety action
No specific safety recommendations or corrective actions were recorded in the final report, as the cause was identified as a procedural error during flight configuration rather than a systemic safety issue requiring regulatory intervention.