What happened
On 23 December 2013, a Piper PA34-200T, registration ZS-MTY, was conducting a type conversion training flight at Lanseria International Airport. The flight, operated by Aeronav Academy, involved a flight instructor and a private pilot. After completing three successful circuits, the aircraft attempted a touch-and-go landing on runway 07.
During the landing flare, the pilot applied excessive back pressure on the control column, causing the aircraft to balloon above the runway. Rather than relaxing the pressure to correct the ballooning, the pilot increased power on both engines. This action caused the aircraft's airspeed to drop significantly, leading to a stall. As the aircraft lost airspeed, it began to yaw toward the right of the runway. The instructor took control to attempt a recovery, but due to the low speed and the aircraft's landing configuration, directional control could not be maintained. The aircraft subsequently crash-landed to the right of the runway, skidding 9 and 0 meters before coming to a stop. Both occupants evacuated the aircraft without injury, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and reviewed video footage provided by airport management to reconstruct the sequence of events. A teardown inspection was performed on the right-hand engine to determine if an engine failure had caused the rightward yaw. This inspection revealed no mechanical anomalies or pre-impact malfunctions.
Findings
- The pilot undergoing conversion applied excessive back pressure during the flare, resulting in a ballooning effect.
- The aircraft's airspeed was allowed to decay during the attempt to recover from the ballooning, which triggered a stall.
- The instructor was unable to regain directional control due to the low airspeed and the extended flap and undercarriage configuration.
- There was no evidence of engine failure or asymmetric thrust contributing to the loss of control.