What happened
A private flight operating under Part 91 regulations departed from Crocodile Nest Private Aerodrome, located near Thabimbi in the Limpopo province, destined for Deza Private Aerodrome. The flight was conducted during the day under visual meteorological conditions and was estimated to last roughly 15 minutes.
Upon arrival at the destination, the twin engine airplane approached the airfield from the southeast to land on Runway 34, which features an upslope gradient. During the landing roll, as the aircraft's speed decreased to between 20 and 25 knots, the plane drifted toward the left side of the runway. During this excursion, the left wheel moved into soft sand, causing the aircraft to lose directional control. The left wing tip tank struck trees situated near the runway, approximately 98 meters from the threshold, causing the tank to break off. The momentum of the aircraft caused a 90-degree turn, leading the nose section to strike another tree. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage, there were no injuries reported among the occupants.
Findings
- The runway at the private aerodrome is 1,300 meters in length and 20 meters in width.
- The aircraft drifted into soft sand on the left side of the runway during the landing roll.