What happened
On the evening of 14 December 2006, a Piper PA28-180, registration ZS-MZP, was conducting a private night flight departing from and returning to Potchefstroom Aerodrome. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and three child passengers. After roughly 30 minutes of flight time, the aircraft commenced its final approach to Runway 21 with the landing gear extended and 20 degrees of flaps set, maintaining an indicated airspeed of 80 mph.
During the approach, the aircraft descended below the required altitude and struck the aerodrome boundary fence just left of the runway centerline, near the runway threshold. The impact caused the left wing to separate from the fuselage, while the right wing sustained significant damage. The aircraft subsequently cartwheeled 180 degrees before coming to a stop in a nose-down position against a tree. The pilot sustained facial injuries, while the three passengers were uninjured but required hospital observation.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight parameters and the aircraft's maintenance history. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were excellent, characterized by calm winds and clear visibility. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's last Mandatory Periodic Inspection had been completed approximately one month prior to the accident, with only 36 hours flown since that certification. The maintenance organization involved held valid approval at the time of the service.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot allowed the aircraft to descend too low during the final approach, leading to the collision with the fence.
- A contributing factor was a distraction caused by the pilot, who attempted to demonstrate the function of the Precision Approach Path Indication (PAPI) lights to the passengers during the approach, resulting in the aircraft descending below a safe ground level.