What happened
On the morning of 19 May 2010, a Cessna 172H, registration ZS-AFH, was conducting a ferry flight from Mafikeng Aerodrome to New Tempe Aerodrome for a scheduled maintenance inspection. The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, joined the traffic circuit at New Tempe from the northwest. Although the active runway was designated as Runway 10, the pilot elected to land on Runway 01, following a departing military DC3 C4/TP aircraft.
During the final approach, the aircraft was observed by another pilot to be high and descending at a high rate. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a series of bounces. The pilot subsequently lost directional control, causing the aircraft to veer left off the asphalt surface. As the aircraft left the runway, the nose landing gear assembly failed, causing the propeller and nose of the fuselage to strike the ground. The aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses, including the pilot of a nearby Beech V35 (ZS-SMF) and the crew of the preceding military aircraft. The investigation established that the pilot had experienced a sudden downdraught just before touchdown, which contributed to a nose-down attitude and a hard impact.
Physical evidence showed a single tyre mark from the nose gear on the runway, ending near the left edge. The investigation also noted that a spare propeller, being transported as cargo, was not properly secured. During the impact sequence, this unsecured 15 kg propeller was projected through the front windshield, coming to rest approximately 22.7 meters from the main wreckage.
Findings
- The pilot performed an incorrect landing technique, characterized by a nose-down touchdown attitude and a high rate of descent.
- The aircraft bounced multiple times following the initial hard impact.
- The failure of the nose landing gear assembly was the direct result of the impact and subsequent loss of control.
- The pilot sustained minor injuries, including cuts and bruises, and was treated by military medical personnel on-site.
- An unsecured spare propeller became a projectile during the accident sequence.