Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche Accident at Springs Aerodrome (ZS-SWC)

Accident Overview and Flight History On 20 July 2017, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, registration ZS-SWC, operated by Mach 1 Aviation Academy, was conducting a multi-engine type conversion training flight from Springs aerodrome (FASI) in Gauteng Province. The crew consisted of a flight instructor and a student pilot. During the flight, the aircraft experienced radio communication difficulties and a loss of electrical power. The instructor attempted to reset the alternators three times without success. Although the instructor selected the landing gear down while some electrical power remained, the aircraft subsequently lost all electrical power. A visual check by colleagues on the ground indicated the gear appeared to be down, but the aircraft landed with the gear retracted. After touchdown approximately 50 meters down Runway 21, all three gears collapsed, and the propellers struck the ground. The aircraft slid for about 100 meters before coming to a halt. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but neither the instructor nor the student was injured.