What happened
On the morning of 15 August 2020, a solo training flight involving a Piper PA-28-180, registration ZS-MZU, resulted in a runway excursion at Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB). The flight, conducted under Part 141 regulations, was a navigational exercise that had previously visited Witbank and Secunda aerodromes.
As the student pilot approached Runway 29, she noted an aircraft already on the runway and queried Air Traffic Control (ATC) regarding whether to execute a go-around. ATC advised the pilot to continue the approach, noting she was sufficiently separated from the other traffic. During the landing phase, the aircraft bounced, leading to a sequence of events that caused the nose landing gear to collapse. The aircraft subsequently struck the runway surface, causing propeller damage and coming to rest on the right edge of the runway. No injuries were reported.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the flight sequence, the pilot's experience, and the aircraft's condition. At the time of the incident, the student pilot had accumulated 58.2 total flying hours. The investigation reviewed radio communications between the tower and the pilot, which confirmed the pilot's awareness of traffic on the runway prior to touchdown.
Technical inspections of the Piper PA-28-180 showed that the aircraft had undergone a maintenance inspection approximately 26 days prior to the incident. Meteorological data indicated that weather conditions were favorable, with light winds and clear visibility. The investigation also analyzed the mechanics of the landing, specifically focusing on the impact that led to the structural failure of the nose gear.