What happened
On 4 August 2023, two aircraft operated by 43 Air School were involved in a serious air proximity incident at Port Alfred Aerodrome (FAPA) in the Eastern Cape. The first aircraft, a Piper-2-180 with registration ZS-JGD, was conducting circuit training with a student pilot and a flight instructor on board. Shortly after, a second aircraft, a Piper-28R-200 registered ZS-JLD, departed the same runway for a solo navigational flight.
While the aircraft were performing maneuvers on Runway 28R, the flight path of the solo student pilot in ZS-JLD converged toward the runway on a late right downwind leg. As the instructor in ZS-JGD turned onto right base, he spotted the landing light of the approaching ZS-JLD only a few meters away. The instructor immediately took control of the aircraft from the student and executed an urgent descent to prevent a collision. Both aircraft subsequently completed their flights without further incident or damage.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the student pilot in ZS-JLD had lost sight of the preceding traffic. While the pilot was aware of other aircraft via radio communications, she failed to maintain visual contact. The investigation also noted that the student pilot had experienced significant gaps in her training, including a break of over eight months prior to this flight, which may have contributed to a regression in skills.
Findings
- The student pilot in ZS-JLD failed to maintain visual separation from the preceding aircraft.
- The flight path of ZS-JLD deviated from the standard circuit pattern, converging toward the runway on the late downwind leg.
- The faster speed of ZS-JLD caused it to catch up to the slower ZS-JGD during the maneuver.
- The student pilot did not fly a proper circuit pattern, leading to the reduction of separation.
- The instructor's rapid reaction and descent were the primary factors in preventing a mid-air collision.