Cessna 175 flips on landing after bird strike avoidance maneuver

Casualties unknown • Weltevrede Airstrip, ZA

A scenic flight in a Cessna 175 ended with the aircraft flipping onto its back after the pilot maneuvered to avoid a large bird and struck a telephone cable.

What happened

On 1 October 2015, a Cessna 175 operating a commercial scenic flight returned to Weltevrede airstrip in the Western Cape. The flight, which had traveled via Pearly Bay and Gansbaai, was on final approach for runway 11 at approximately 1600 feet AGL.

As the aircraft reached roughly 50 feet AGL, the pilot observed a large Hadida Ibis flying directly toward the aircraft's windscreen. To prevent a high-impact collision, the pilot executed a sharp descent. While the maneuver successfully moved the aircraft below the bird, the nose gear struck a telephone cable spanning the runway approximately 580m from the threshold. The cable snapped but became entangled around the nose gear oleo.

This impact caused the aircraft to touch down in a nose-high attitude and bounce. The subsequent touchdown occurred left of the runway centerline, where the aircraft ran into a shallow storm water drainage ditch. The force caused the nose gear oleo to break off, and the aircraft gently flipped onto its back. Despite the substantial damage to the airframe, the pilot and two passengers escaped without injury.

The investigation

SACAA AIID examined the flight history, maintenance records, and environmental factors. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid commercial license and the aircraft, registration ZS-CJLE, was properly maintained by an approved organization. Meteorological conditions were clear with good visibility, and the aircraft's navigation and communication equipment were fully functional. The investigation also noted that the pilot did not follow the standard procedure for unmanned aerodromes, which requires joining overhead the airfield at 2000 feet.

Findings

  • The pilot's primary cause of the accident was the collision with a telephone cable during an evasive maneuver.
  • The pilot failed to maintain a lookout for the cable on the approach path.
  • The aircraft's descent to avoid a bird strike directly led to the entanglement with the overhead wire.
  • The aircraft's landing sequence involved a bounce and a subsequent excursion into a drainage ditch, leading to the inversion of the aircraft.

Probable cause

The loss of control during landing was caused by the aircraft striking a telephone cable on final approach while the pilot was performing an evasive maneuver to avoid a bird strike.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2015-10-01 Cessna 175 accident near Weltevrede Airstrip, ZA?

A scenic flight in a Cessna 175 ended with the aircraft flipping onto its back after the pilot maneuvered to avoid a large bird and struck a telephone cable.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2015-10-01 involved a Cessna 175, registration ZS-CJV, at Weltevrede Airstrip, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The loss of control during landing was caused by the aircraft striking a telephone cable on final approach while the pilot was performing an evasive maneuver to avoid a bird strike.

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