Piper PA28R-200 Nose Gear Collapse at Kob Inn (ZS-FWT)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 26 October 1999 at approximately 1615Z, a Piper PA28R-200 with registration ZS-FWT was involved in an accident at Kob Inn. The aircraft was operated by a private pilot-in-command holding a valid private licence, with 714.50 total flying hours and 198.60 hours on type. The flight was a private operation from Flamingo Park, East London, to Kob Inn, with three people on board. ## Accident Sequence and Environmental Conditions The pilot reported landing on Runway 06 at Kob Inn and taxiing toward the end of the runway with the intention to backtrack. During this maneuver, the nose wheel sank approximately 100mm into a trench covered by soft and wet sand. The pilot stated the trench had been dug about four months earlier for an underground electrical cable installation and that the sand had become soft due to heavy rainfall earlier. The pilot also stated that the runway had been inspected prior to take-off and appeared suitable for take-off and landing. ## Meteorological Conditions and Outcome The weather was reported as fine, with a surface wind of 09 at 5kt. No injuries or fatalities were reported among the three people on board.