What happened
On August 5, 2002, a PIPER PA28-235, registered ZS-ORT, was conducting a private flight from Hoedspruit to Swartkops Aerodrome. Upon arriving at the destination, the pilot entered the landing circuit and lined up for an approach to Runway 02.
While the pilot initially described the touchdown as smooth and straight, the aircraft began to veer toward the left side of the runway during the landing roll. Despite efforts to regain control, the aircraft left the paved surface. The impact resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear, causing the propeller and the right-end wingtip to strike the ground. There were no fatalities and no injuries reported following the incident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the runway surface and the wreckage to reconstruct the landing sequence. Analysis of the tire marks left on the runway indicated that the aircraft did not land in a standard configuration; instead, the marks suggested the aircraft made contact with the runway on its nose wheel and the left-hand main gear first. The investigation focused on the aircraft's behavior immediately following touchdown and the physical evidence of the landing gear's failure.