Incident Overview
On 20 June 2021, a Beech 36 Bonanza aircraft, registration ZS-NFI, was involved in an accident during take-off from Lombard Pan Airstrip, a private gravel strip near Britstown, Northern Cape. The flight was operated under Part 91 private rules. None of the four occupants and the pilot were injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Sequence of Events
The pilot and three passengers had flown from Stellenbosch Aerodrome (FASH) to Lombard Pan on 16 June 2021. After an uneventful landing, they stayed at the farm until departure day, 20 June, when a fourth passenger joined. The pilot calculated the all-up weight at 3835 lb, below the maximum take-off weight of 4000 lb. He planned a take-off direction of 120° with an available 850 m of runway, estimating a required 550 m.
During the pre-flight inspection and run-up, conditions were calm with visibility over 10 km and no wind. At approximately 0645Z, the take-off roll commenced. The pilot noted that the aircraft was not accelerating as expected but reached 80 mph (70 kts). Upon rotation, the aircraft failed to climb sufficiently. At an altitude between 30 ft and 50 ft, lift began to diminish. The pilot chose to land back on the pan to avoid stalling, but the aircraft ran out of room and struck a tree, causing a 180° ground loop. The aircraft came to rest facing the take-off direction.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Beech 36 Bonanza (serial number E 2712) with a total time of 2059 hours. The pilot held an Air Transport Pilot Licence, had 4195 total flying hours, and 75.2 hours on type. The flight was visual flight rules (VFR) by day.
Investigation Findings
The probable cause was that the aircraft’s left wing impacted a tree due to failure to climb since the centre of gravity (CoG) was too close to the aft limit. This resulted in the aircraft ground-looping 180° before coming to a stop facing the direction of take-off. A contributing factor was that the pilot did not consider the resistance caused by the gravel surface of the pan during flight planning.
Safety Message
Pilots are encouraged to consider the risks associated with a rearward CoG and the aerodynamic consequences of the initial climb, as this can affect the correct aircraft climb pitch.