What happened
On 13 February 2026, a Piper PA28-140 Cherokee, registered ZS-EOZ, was conducting circuit training at Wonderboom Airport (FAWB) in Gauteng. The flight, operated under Part 1/41 regulations, was manned by a flight instructor and a student pilot. Following three successful touch-and-go maneuvers, the student pilot, acting as the pilot flying, attempted a fourth landing on Runway 24.
During the final approach, the aircraft was configured with third-stage flaps while maintaining a speed of approximately 85 mph. The aircraft passed the runway threshold at an altitude of roughly 20 feet and experienced a period of floating. The aircraft subsequently made contact with the runway surface with the nose gear wheel first. The impact caused the lower portion of the nose gear, including the fork, to detach, leading the propeller blades to strike the runway. The aircraft skidded along the surface before coming to a halt near the threshold of Runway 06. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries to the occupants, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the aircraft's maintenance and personnel records. The investigation confirmed that the flight instructor and student pilot held valid licenses and medical certificates appropriate for the training flight. The aircraft, ZS-EOZ, was found to be in compliance with maintenance requirements, having undergone a mandatory periodic inspection shortly before the incident. Meteorological data indicated that weather conditions were clear with high visibility and were not a contributing factor to the event.
Findings
The investigation established that the primary cause of the incident was that the aircraft was unstable on final approach, resulting in a nose-first touchdown. This improper landing technique led to the structural failure of the nose gear assembly and subsequent propeller damage.