What Happened
On 19 November 2021 at 1040Z, a Cessna 172H aircraft with registration ZS-IRA departed for circuit training exercises on Runway 07 at Lanseria Airport (FALA), Gauteng Province. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) as a private operation per Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations. The pilot, accompanied by one passenger, completed an uneventful touch-and-go circuit. During the second circuit while on downwind, air traffic control (ATC) advised that the wind velocity had increased from 13 to 16 knots at 350 degrees. The pilot then decided to perform a full-stop landing. On final approach, the aircraft was at 65 knots and unstable, with a crosswind component of approximately 15 knots. The aircraft landed hard on its main wheels, causing a bounce. The pilot lost directional control, and the aircraft veered to the right of the runway centreline, striking the propeller against the runway surface. The pilot later regained control and taxied back to the parking bay without further incident.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172H (serial number 172-55840) with a total of 4,358.5 hours. The pilot, a 23-year-old male, held a valid Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) and had 79.9 total flying hours, with 74.6 hours on type. No injuries were reported; the aircraft sustained minor damage to the propeller tips.
Weather
According to the SA Weather Service report for FALA at 1000Z, conditions were: wind 340 degrees at 10 knots, varying between 250 and 020 degrees; visibility greater than 10 km; scattered clouds at 3,000 feet; temperature 24°C; dew point 14°C; barometric pressure 1018 hPa.
Probable Cause
The aircraft landed hard on both main gears in a crosswind condition following an unstable approach which caused the pilot to lose control; the aircraft veered off to the right-side of the runway centreline. Later, the pilot recovered control of the aircraft and successfully taxied the aircraft to the parking bay.