What happened
On 28 October 2002, a BEECH E55, registration ZS-IMN, was conducting a private flight from Grand Central Aerodrome to Ulusaba Private Aerodrome in Mpumalanga. The flight carried a pilot and four passengers. Upon arriving overhead the destination, the pilot, who was unfamiliar with the aerodrome, received instructions from another pilot to utilize Runway 19.
During the landing sequence, the aircraft touched down approximately 200 meters past the runway threshold at an indicated airspeed of 80 mph. With roughly 800 to 900 meters of runway remaining, the pilot determined that the aircraft could not stop within the available distance. To avoid overrunning the runway into nearby bushes, the pilot attempted a sharp right turn toward the apron area. During this maneuver, the left-hand main undercarriage collapsed.
There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries among the occupants. The aircraft sustained significant damage to the left-hand propeller blades, left wing tip, left flap, left main gear, and the left side of the fuselage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's familiarity with the airfield and the mechanical state of the aircraft. Records indicated that the aircraft's last Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) had been completed on 19 August 2002, with 42.5 flight hours accumulated since that inspection. The maintenance organization responsible for the MPI held a valid approval at the time of the incident.
Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's compliance history, noting that all Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and Service Bulletins (SBs) had been addressed. The aircraft had been registered in South Africa since November 1971.
Findings
- The pilot lacked familiarity with the layout and procedures of Ulusaba Private Aerodrome.
- The aircraft landed too far down the runway, leaving insufficient distance to decelerate safely.
- The decision to execute an abrupt turn toward the apron to avoid an overrun resulted in the collapse of the left-hand main landing gear.