What happened
On 29 August 2011, a Cessna 188B agricultural aircraft, registration ZS-KWB, was performing crop spraying duties at Schoongesig farm in the Western Cape. During the take-off from a narrow gravel runway, the aircraft drifted toward the left side of the strip. The left wing made contact with wheat vegetation growing alongside the runway shoulder, causing the aircraft to veer sharply.
In an attempt to manage the situation, the pilot immediately dumped the chemical load from the hopper tank. However, the aircraft's path led it into a wire boundary fence. The impact caused damage to the propeller, the left wing, and the spray boom, which broke off. Because the adjacent field was uneven with various holes and humps, the pilot elected to continue the take-off run, subsequently turning back to land safely on the original runway. The pilot escaped the incident with no injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the flight, noting that the pilot was conducting his 20th take-off of the day at the time of the incident. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid commercial license with the appropriate agricultural ratings and a current medical certificate. Furthermore, records indicated that the aircraft had been maintained by an approved maintenance organization in accordance with manufacturer requirements.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the loss of directional control on take-off, which resulted in the left wing striking wheat vegetation.
- A significant contributing factor was crew fatigue, as the pilot was engaged in a high-frequency series of take-offs throughout the day.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller blades, the left wing, and the spray boom.
- The wire fence struck during the excursion was also damaged.