What happened
On 3 June 1999, a Cessna 172 XP, registered ZS-JXB, was conducting a private flight from Bloemfontein toward Port Alfred. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers. As the aircraft was performing its approach to the Port Alfred aerodrome, the pilot encountered a sudden shift in the aircraft's attitude, accompanied by the activation of the stall warning.
In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied maximum power and extended the flaps by an additional 10 degrees, hoping the increased flap setting would help correct the nose attitude. However, the left wing tip struck a tree roughly 300 meters from the runway threshold. The aircraft continued along the ground for 35 meters before finally coming to a halt against another tree 12 meters further along the path. While the three passengers sustained minor injuries, the pilot suffered more significant injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the flight parameters and the pilot's actions during the final stages of the approach. The investigation focused on the aircraft's flight path, the application of power and flaps, and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident, which were noted as fine.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot conducted the approach at an insufficiently low airspeed and altitude.
- This resulted in a decay of airspeed to a critical level, leading to a stall in one wing.
- The loss of lift caused the left wing to strike an obstacle prior to the aircraft's final ground impact.