101 ways to kill your instructor

On 26 February 2022 at approximately 0645Z, an instructor and a student pilot on-board a Jabiru J430 aircraft with registration ZU-IKG took off from Runway 27 at Rhino Park Aerodrome with the intention to land back at the same aerodrome. The purpose of the flight was to conduct circuit training towards a conversion to a Jabiru J430 aircraft. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions VMC) by day and under the provisions of Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Regulations CAR) 2011 as amended.

- By Charlie Marais

The student pilot was the pilot flying. Take-off from Runway 27 at an airspeed of approximately 70 knots was uneventful. The student pilot reported that he had successfully performed one simulated glide approach and one engine failure after take-off procedure. Thereafter, he completed two normal circuit-and-landing exercises.

On the third circuit whilst on final approach, the student pilot stated that he felt the aircraft sink, which was more pronounced than usual; as a result, the instructor took over the control of the aircraft and tried to increase throttle, but it was a little late. The aircraft's main landing gear impacted the edge of the runway hard, causing damage to the left main landing gear.

The instructor and the student pilot were not injured during the accident sequence. The student pilot stated that the flight lasted approximately 54 minutes.

Probable cause (SACAA)

The aircraft was shallow on approach just before landing, which resulted in the main landing gear impacting the edge of the runway.

Comments by Charlie Marais

So flying is not for the faint hearted, and flying instruction borders on adrenalin addiction. Now, just hold a second, this has nothing to do with anything sinister, but the pleasure in this case of the probability for danger to manifest. Probably not the correct word, too many possible phobias, so let me rather site the addiction to danger or dangerous situations as someone who most probably seeks an adrenaline rush, without actually knowing their condition. Truth be told, there is no descriptive word for someone loving to instruct the most dangerous acts on earth. That, I believe, was a bit strong, but flying is still extremely dangerous and depending on what you fly, never a dull moment.