What happened
On the morning of 28 July 2021, two Zlin Savage Cub aircraft departed Eva’s Airfield in KwaZulu-Natal for a private flight. The first aircraft, ZU-IMX, was being piloted by a commercial pilot, followed closely by a second Zlin Savage Cub, registration ZU-IPZ, piloted by his son. The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules without a filed flight plan.
While flying low over a plantation near Craigie Burn Dam, the ZU-IMX aircraft struck Eskom powerlines supported by 11-meter wooden poles. The impact caused a cable to entangle the propeller flange, leading the aircraft to travel approximately 110 meters before crashing into rocky terrain. A post-impact fire broke out, destroying the aircraft. Although the pilot of ZU-IMX managed to escape the wreckage with burn injuries, he later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Witnessing the accident, the pilot of ZU-IPZ performed an emergency landing in a nearby area. After reaching the crash site on foot, the pilot of ZU-IPZ attempted to transport the injured pilot back to safety using the second aircraft. However, during the subsequent takeoff attempt, the ZU-IPZ aircraft struck a rock, causing the right main gear to break and the propeller to strike the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding both aircraft movements. For ZU-IMX, investigators confirmed that the aircraft systems were functional prior to the collision. For ZU-IPZ, the investigation focused on the emergency takeoff parameters and the weight of the aircraft during the rescue attempt.
Findings
- The primary cause of the ZU-IMX accident was the low-altitude flight path which led to a collision with powerlines.
- The ZU-IPZ aircraft was operated significantly above its maximum takeoff weight, weighing 522kg against a limit of 472kg.
- The pilot of ZU-IPZ failed to perform necessary weight and balance calculations or evaluate the suitability of the takeoff area due to the high-stress emergency situation.
- The secondary accident involving ZU-IPZ was caused by the aircraft's inability to reach rotation speed on a short runway, leading to the gear striking a rock.