Cessna 172P Serious Incident at Wonderboom Aerodrome (ZS-SDA)

Overview and Flight Details On the morning of 19 July 2022, a student pilot conducted a visual flight rules (VFR) training flight in a Cessna C172P, registration ZS-SDA, from Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB) in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The flight, operated under Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Regulations, proceeded to the local general flying area before returning for a landing on Runway 11. ## Incident Sequence During the approach, the student pilot reduced indicated airspeed from 70 to 65 knots with 30° of flaps extended. On short final, the aircraft flared and landed hard on the main landing gear, causing it to bounce. The pilot subsequently lost control, and the aircraft drifted slightly left of the runway centreline before touching down hard again. The pilot regained control, steered the aircraft back to the centreline, and taxied to the hangar. ## Damage and Injuries The incident resulted in minor damage to the aircraft, specifically a substantially damaged bottom left-side firewall. The student pilot, a 20-year-old female, was not injured. ## Contributing Factors and Probable Cause The official weather report indicated a 5-knot left crosswind and a 6-knot tailwind component. The investigation determined that the tailwind was not significant enough to be a contributing factor. The probable cause was identified as the aircraft being flared too early, which led to a loss of height, a hard landing, and the subsequent bounce and drift. ## Safety Actions Following the incident, the Approved Training Organisation assigned an instructor to the student pilot before she was permitted to fly solo again, and the training programme was updated accordingly.