Serious incident Boeing 737-4Y0 ZS-JRE,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 308182
 
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Date:Wednesday 25 August 2021
Time:07:25 UTC
Type:Silhouette image of generic B734 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Boeing 737-4Y0
Owner/operator:FlySafair
Registration: ZS-JRE
MSN: 26065/2284
Year of manufacture:1992
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 164
Aircraft damage: None
Category:Serious incident
Location:East London Aerodrome (FAEL) -   South Africa
Phase: Approach
Nature:Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:Cape Town International Airport (CPT/FACT)
Destination airport:East London Airport (ELS/FAEL)
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
A Piper PA-28R-200 (ZS-PTV), and a Boeing 737-400, Safair flight 142 (ZS-JRE) approached East London Aerodrome (FAEL) at about the same time.
The air traffic control officer (ATCO) instructed the student pilot, who was the sole occupant on-board the Piper aircraft, to route northbound (a right turn) away from ZS-JRE’s flight path as it was cleared for instrument landing system (ILS) approach for landing on runway 11. The student pilot appeared to have misinterpreted the ATCOs instruction and made a left turn instead of a right turn. The ATC did not correct the student pilot. The Piper aircraft was later observed by the ATCO crossing overhead the Boeing 737 which was already established on the long final approach. This led to a loss of vertical separation between the two aircraft.
The Boeing 737 continued with the approach and landed safely before it vacated the runway. It was estimated that the aircraft, at their closest, were 200 feet (61 metres) vertically and 0.2 nautical miles (370 metres) horizontally apart.
After receiving clearance to perform a touch-and-go landing on runway 11, the Piper pilot conducted a single touch-and-go and reported “safe” after getting airborne. The student pilot routed outbound via Keyser’s Beach.
No injuries resulted from this serious incident, and neither aircraft sustained damage.

Probable Cause
Loss of minimum separation (AIRPROX) between the two aircraft on final approach after the student pilot deviated from executing the ATCO’s instruction.
Contributing Factors
• Incorrect execution of the ATCO’s instructions by the student pilot.
• Omittance by the ATCO to correct the misinterpreted readback by the student pilot

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 5 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

CAA S.A.

Revision history:

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