What happened
On 8 May 2003, a Cessna 172N, registration ZS-OHH, was involved in an accident during a solo training flight at Grand Central Aerodrome (FAGC). The student pilot, who was performing his fourth solo flight, departed from Runway 17 without incident. The subsequent approach to the same runway appeared normal; however, upon touchdown, the aircraft ballooned. In an attempt to correct the aircraft's attitude, the pilot pushed the nose forward, which caused the plane to bounce. This maneuver led to a loss of directional control, causing the aircraft to veer left off the runway.
As the aircraft exited the runway, the left-hand main wheel struck a water furrow, causing the gear to break off. The momentum of the aircraft caused it to swing further to the left, ultimately resulting in an impact with the aerodrome's perimeter fence. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase and the mechanical state of the aircraft. Records indicated that the aircraft's last Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) had been completed on 24 April 2003, with 39.0 flight hours accumulated since that inspection. At the time of the accident, the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness was valid. The investigation also reviewed maintenance compliance, finding that all Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and Service Bulletins (SBs) had been addressed. The aircraft sustained significant damage to the propeller, left wing tip, left-hand elevator, horizontal stabilizer, and the left-hand main landing gear.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of directional control during the landing roll.
- The pilot's corrective action following the aircraft ballooning—pushing the nose forward—induced a bounce that destabilized the aircraft's path.
- The structural failure of the landing gear was a direct result of the left-hand main wheel entering a water furrow during the runway excursion.