What happened
On 11 November 2019, a training flight involving a flight instructor and a student pilot departed from Springs Aerodrome (FASI) in Gauteng Province. The flight was intended to practice circuit patterns and emergency procedures in a Piper PA 28-140, registration ZS-EXI.
During the third circuit of the flight, the instructor reduced engine power to idle while on the base leg to simulate an engine failure. As the aircraft transitioned from the base leg to the final approach, the student pilot increased the left bank angle to align with the runway centerline. This maneuver resulted in a left-wing low attitude. At an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the student pilot froze on the control column, causing a loss of aircraft control.
Although the instructor managed to regain control and applied full power to attempt a go-around, the aircraft's configuration and altitude prevented a successful recovery. The aircraft subsequently struck a lamp post on Olympia Road in the Dal Fouche residential area before coming to rest roughly 325 meters from the threshold of Runway 03. The impact caused substantial damage to the Piper PA 28-140 and two lamp poles. Both occupants sustained injuries, with the student pilot suffering serious injuries and the instructor sustaining minor injuries.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's configuration, and the pilot's performance. Investigators reviewed the student pilot's training records, which noted previous needs for improvement in areas such as lookout procedures, rudder use, and power management. The investigation also looked at the aircraft's setup, noting that the flaps were retracted, the fuel mixture was full rich, and the carburetor heat was set to the "on" position during the critical phase of the approach.