What happened
On the morning of May 6, 2026, a student pilot departed from Virginia Airport (FAVG) in KwaZulu-Natal for a solo consolidation training flight. Operating under visual meteorological conditions, the pilot flew a circuit via Blyde’s Dale and Mthunzini before returning to the departure aerodrome. Upon joining the downwind leg for Runway 05, the pilot selected full flaps and maintained an airspeed of 75 knots on final approach. As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, power was reduced, leading to a hard initial touchdown with the main landing gear. The aircraft bounced into the air; during the subsequent second touchdown, it bounced again. This sequence caused the nose landing gear strut to collapse and the propeller to strike the runway surface. Emergency services responded immediately, but the pilot exited the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
SACAA AIID conducted a limited investigation, relying on information provided by the affected parties. The inquiry examined the pilot's credentials, the aircraft's maintenance status, and environmental conditions. The student pilot held a valid Student Pilot Licence and had accumulated 63.8 hours on the type. The aircraft, registered ZU-STA, was airworthy with no reported technical defects prior to the flight. Weather conditions were clear and did not contribute to the event. The investigation focused on the approach parameters compared to the manufacturer's recommended procedures.
Findings
The primary causal factor was an unstable approach characterized by excessive speed and improper flare technique. The aircraft touched down at approximately 75 knots, which exceeded the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) recommendation of 65 knots for a normal landing. Additionally, the flare was initiated higher than advised, resulting in a sharp impact and subsequent bounce. This poor landing technique led directly to the structural failure of the nose gear and propeller contact with the ground.
Safety action
No specific safety recommendations or actions were recorded in the report.