What happened
On the morning of 12 February 2022, a private flight departed from Morningstar Aerodrome in the Western Cape, bound for a farm near Nieuwoudtville Aerodrome in the Northern Cape. The flight was being conducted under visual meteorological conditions in accordance with Part 94 regulations.
As the pilot attempted to land on a gravel road being used as a private landing strip, the aircraft was traveling in a westerly direction at approximately 55 knots. During the landing sequence, the right wing of the Vans RV-7, registration ZU-WAB, made contact with a small thorn bush located on the right side of the road. This impact caused the left main landing gear strut to collapse and the left wing to strike the ground. The aircraft subsequently veered right and came to a halt facing east. While the aircraft suffered substantial damage, the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the airworthiness of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence with the appropriate type endorsement and a current medical certificate. The aircraft's maintenance records showed a recent annual inspection completed in January 2022, and the aircraft held a valid Authority to Fly.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot losing directional control after the right wing collided with a thorn bush.
- A significant contributing factor was that the gravel road had not been inspected prior to the landing attempt.
- The use of the road for landing was found to be in contravention of Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR 2011, Part 91.06.1), which restricts landing on public roads to emergency or life-saving situations.