What happened
On 30 November 2000, a Piper PA28-180, registration ZS-MTU, was returning to Port Alfred following a cross-country training mission. The flight had previously departed from Port Alfred to visit East London and Bisho.
As the pilot prepared for the final approach, the conditions were reported as fine. While the approach initially appeared stable, the aircraft experienced a bounce upon contacting the runway. During the subsequent second touchdown, the pilot was unable to maintain the aircraft's path on the paved surface. The aircraft veered off the runway and entered the adjacent grass area, resulting in damage to the propeller and the nose landing gear. There were no injuries and no fatalities associated with the event.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing at Port Alfred. The investigation focused on the flight sequence following the completion of the training circuit and the mechanical behavior of the aircraft during the landing phase. The inquiry established that the aircraft was being operated for training purposes by a pilot with 213.7 total flying hours.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a bounce during the initial landing attempt.
- The pilot lost directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll.
- The excursion into the grass was a direct result of the inability to maintain the runway centerline after the second touchdown.