What happened
On 10 December 2003, a BEECH 95-B55, registration ZS-JFF, was conducting a flight training session at Brakpan Aerodrome in Gauteng. The flight was part of a dual engine rating test for a student, following previous training involving simulated engine failures. During the circuit phase of the flight, the student pilot initiated a simulated failure of the right engine.
As the aircraft approached the runway, the instructor instructed the student to stop on Runway 18 following the landing. During the flare, the aircraft touched down lightly but subsequently ballooned. Although the instructor attempted to take control of the aircraft, the student's physical positioning—specifically a locked elbow—prevented the instructor from effectively managing the controls or reducing power. Consequently, the aircraft pitched upward under high power, entering a stall at an altitude of approximately 10 to 15 feet. This resulted in the right wing dropping and the aircraft veering right, off the runway. To mitigate the force of the impact, the instructor retracted the landing gear, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage during the excursion. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
SACCAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the flight, including the aircraft's maintenance history and the actions of the crew. The BEECH 95-B55 had completed its last maintenance inspection only two hours prior to the accident. Records indicated the aircraft was type-accepted and the maintenance organization had recently passed an audit with no major findings. The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the simulated engine failure and the interaction between the instructor and the student during the critical landing phase.