What happened
On February 4, 2000, a Cessna T 188 C, registration ZS-KXG, was performing a commercial operation departing from and returning to Farm Langverwagt. During the landing phase, immediately following touchdown, the pilot reported a loud noise originating from the front left section of the aircraft.
Despite a 12 km/h headwind, the aircraft's directional control was compromised. While the pilot managed to keep the aircraft rolling on the right main wheel, the plane veered off the asphalt runway approximately 40 to 50 metres from the touchdown point. As the aircraft left the paved surface, it struck a 0.5-metre-high embankment, which triggered a ground loop. During this sequence, the left wing made contact with the ground, and the tail wheel assembly failed, causing damage to the horizontal stabilizer and the empennage. The aircraft eventually came to a stop with the left main wheel assembly located roughly 38 metres ahead of the fuselage. No injuries were reported.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the mechanical state of the landing gear. The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the left main landing gear support strut and the sequence of events following the initial noise heard by the pilot. The recovery facility's assessment of the aircraft's components was also reviewed to determine the origin of the structural failure.