What happened
On 26 May 2008, a Cessna 182R, registration ZS-LBP, was conducting a cross-country navigational test flight. The flight, which was part of a student pilot's final evaluation, was traveling from Vereeniging Aerodrome toward Rustenburg Aerodrome. The flight instructor served as the pilot-in-command, while the student pilot acted as the pilot-flying.
During the approach to Runway 16 at Rustenburg, the crew utilized full flaps. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a bounce. In an attempt to execute a go-around, the student pilot applied maximum power. This maneuver resulted in an aerodynamic stall, causing the left wing to drop and strike the grass area adjacent to the runway. The impact caused the nose wheel to detach, and the aircraft nosed over, eventually coming to rest in an inverted position approximately 30 meters from the runway edge.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the flight conditions and the sequence of the landing maneuver. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was properly maintained, had a valid certificate of airworthiness, and carried sufficient fuel for the mission. Meteorological data indicated a crosswind of 220-240 degrees at 5-10 knots during the time of the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft bounced on touchdown due to an excessive rate of descent.
- The student pilot initiated a go-around by applying full throttle but failed to compensate for the prevailing crosswind.
- The aircraft entered a stall during the power application.
- The flight instructor failed to intervene in time to stabilize the aircraft and prevent the stall.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, landing gear, and propeller.
- The flight instructor sustained minor injuries to his hands, while the student pilot remained uninjured.