What Happened
On 18 February 2023 at 0915Z, a pilot and passenger aboard a Piper PA-28R 250 aircraft, registration ZS-MUD, departed on a private flight from Runway 08 at Silver Creek Airfield in the North West Province, with the intention to land back at the same airfield. The flight was conducted under Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011 as amended. The pilot reported that a pre-flight inspection revealed no anomalies. During the return approach, as the aircraft's speed was approximately 80 mph, rain began to fall, reducing visibility. After touchdown on Runway 08, the pilot observed zebras approximately 500 m ahead and applied the brakes. The aircraft veered left off the runway and came to rest in a bushy terrain. Runway 08 is approximately 1300 m long. The flight duration was about 0.5 hours. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft sustained minor damage to the right wing. The incident occurred during daylight at GPS coordinates 25°47'55.42" S 27°31'14.02" E, elevation 4360 ft.
Weather Conditions
Weather information from the SAWS METAR at George Dick Montshioa Aerodrome (approximately 192 km away) at 0900Z showed wind 020° at 8 knots, visibility 9999, temperature 25°C, dew point 19°C, QNH 1015 hPa, and broken clouds at 2000 ft. The pilot reported wind 260° at 8 knots, poor visibility, temperature 25°C, overcast clouds at 6000 ft, and QNH 1015 hPa. No surface observation tools are deployed at Silver Creek Airfield.
Findings
The pilot held a Commercial Pilot Licence issued on 14 July 2008, reissued on 11 June 2022 (expiry 30 May 2023). Total flying hours: 9220.1, with 116.5 hours on type. The pilot had a valid Class 1 medical certificate issued 28 July 2022 (expiry 31 July 2023). The aircraft's Certificate of Registration was issued 18 February 2018; Certificate of Airworthiness issued 21 June 2022 (expiry 20 June 2023). The last Mandatory Periodic Inspection was on 8 April 2022 at 6259.62 hours; at the time of the incident, the aircraft had 6354.62 hours. A Certificate of Release to Service was issued 8 April 2022 (expiry 7 April 2023 or 6359.62 hours). No defects were recorded in the flight folio.
Probable Cause
During landing on the wet runway, the pilot applied hard brakes which led to loss of control. The aircraft subsequently veered off to the left of the runway before it came to a stop in a nearby bush.
Contributing Factors
The report lists the following contributing factors: poor airmanship for not carrying out runway inspection; animals on the runway; poor visibility due to rain; wet runway surface.