Introduction
On 4 January 2025, at approximately 1010Z, a Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior (registration ZS-JLO) was involved in a serious incident during a solo training flight. The aircraft, operated under Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Regulations, departed from Winelands Airfield (FAWN) to Swellendam Airfield (FASX) with the intention to return. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions.
Flight Details
The pilot, who held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a Class 2 medical certificate, reported conducting a thorough pre-flight inspection with no abnormalities detected. The take-off and flight to Swellendam were uneventful. Upon returning to Winelands Airfield, the aircraft joined the traffic pattern for Runway 05, following other aircraft established in the circuit. The pilot noted a light crosswind from the left, indicated by the windsock.
Incident Sequence
During the approach, the pilot executed two approaches that resulted in go-arounds due to the aircraft being slightly high on final. On the third attempt, the aircraft approached at 65 knots with flaps set at 40 degrees. The pilot reduced power, causing the aircraft to rapidly sink. It touched down hard on the threshold, short of the runway designation numbers, and bounced. The aircraft then veered off to the left of the runway. The pilot initiated corrective action to return to the centreline, during which the aircraft rolled to the right, and the right-wing tip fairing scraped along the runway surface. The pilot regained control and brought the aircraft to a stop on the runway. The pilot was not injured and disembarked unassisted.
Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot had 150 total flight hours, with 9.6 hours on the type. He had completed a conversion to the Piper aircraft between 3 October and 3 November 2024, accumulating 6.5 hours, and had not flown the type for two months prior to the incident. The aircraft was properly maintained, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and a recent mandatory periodic inspection. The crosswind component was calculated at 11 knots, within the aircraft's maximum limit of 17 knots. Weather was not considered a contributing factor.
Probable Cause
The aircraft's speed was slow at 40° flap settings on final approach, which resulted in loss of lift and a hard landing, followed by a bounce and loss of directional control.