What happened
On 2 May 1999, a Piper PA28-140, registration ZS-FAC, was conducting a private flight from Brakpan Aerodrome to Cathedral Peak Aerodrome. During the flight, the aircraft stopped at Harrysmith to refuel. Following the refueling stop, the pilot encountered a mechanical issue where the parking brake failed to release immediately upon moving the lever, though the brakes did release once engine power was applied.
Upon arriving at Cathedral Peak, the pilot performed an overhead inspection of the runway. After confirming the strip was clear, the pilot initiated a long final approach using full flaps and touched down on the grass runway surface. Following touchdown, the pilot attempted to apply the brakes but reported a lack of braking effectiveness. As the aircraft continued down the runway, it encountered uneven terrain, causing the aircraft to veer to the right. The aircraft subsequently struck an embankment, which caused the right-hand wing to separate from the fuselage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the accident site at Cathedral Peak Aerodrome and analyzed the aircraft's flight path. The investigation established that the aircraft touched down significantly deep into the runway area. Evidence at the scene indicated that the wheels skidded along the surface from the point of touchdown to the final resting position of the aircraft. No injuries were reported among the two occupants on board.
Findings
- The aircraft touched down too far down the runway length.
- The landing was performed on an unsuitable grass runway surface.
- The pilot had limited experience with this specific aircraft type, with only 14 hours 05 minutes of total time on type.
- The aircraft encountered unevenness on the runway surface which contributed to the loss of directional control.