Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Serious Incident at Rustenburg Airfield (ZS-SGI)

Overview and Flight Details On 6 January 2026, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration ZS-SGI, was involved in a serious incident at Rustenburg Airfield (FARG) in North West Province, South Africa. The aircraft was operated by a student pilot during a solo navigation training flight under Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Regulations. The flight originated from Wonderboom Airport (FAWB) in Gauteng Province, with the intended landing point being the same airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the operation. ## Sequence of Events The student pilot reported that the aircraft was fueled with 50 US gallons of Avgas LL100 prior to departure. The planned route included stops at Pilanesberg Airfield (FAPN) and Rustenburg Airfield (FARG) before returning to FAWB. After an uneventful flight to FAPN, the pilot proceeded to FARG, where he joined the circuit on the left downwind for Runway 34. During the final approach, the pilot selected third-stage flaps while maintaining a speed of approximately 85 mph. The aircraft touched down hard, resulting in a bounce. The nose subsequently pitched down, causing the aircraft to land hard with the nose wheel first. This impact broke the nose gear strut, and the propeller struck the runway surface. The aircraft skidded on its nose gear oleo and came to a stop on the left side of the runway. The pilot disembarked without injury, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. ## Investigation Findings The investigation determined that the student pilot held a valid Student Pilot Licence and a Class 2 aviation medical certificate. The pilot had 46 total hours on the aircraft type. The aircraft's last mandatory periodic inspection was conducted on 11 December 2025, and the Certificate of Airworthiness was valid at the time of the incident. The training organization held a valid Approved Training Organisation certificate. ## Probable Cause and Contributing Factors The probable cause of the incident was an unstable approach, as the aircraft approached the runway at a high speed and subsequently bounced. The pilot did not execute a go-around, resulting in the nose pitching down and a hard landing with the nose wheel first. Contributing factors included the pilot's lack of experience and the failure to execute a go-around after the bounce.