What happened
On the morning of 12 June 2022, a private flight departing from Worcester Aerodrome in the Western Cape ended in an aircraft accident. The aircraft, a Glaser-Dirks DG-500M with registration ZS-GUJ, was being operated under visual meteorological conditions for a local flight.
During the takeoff roll on Runway 33, the pilot attempted rotation at an airspeed of only 40 km/h, significantly below the recommended 100 km/h specified in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook. At approximately 50 feet above the ground, a sudden gust of wind caused the glider to veer left of the runway centerline. This disturbance led to a loss of control, resulting in an uncontrolled left spiral. The aircraft eventually impacted the terrain roughly 70 meters from the edge of the runway. While the aircraft suffered substantial damage, there were no fatalities and no injuries to the pilot or passenger.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the weather conditions and flight parameters leading up to the impact. Data from the South African Weather Service indicated that while there were no significant clouds, the area was subject to low-level turbulence. Specifically, meteorological charts showed that severe mountain waves were expected in the vicinity, which can create dangerous, rapidly changing wind directions and turbulent eddies.
Technical reviews confirmed that the aircraft's registration, maintenance release, and the pilot's licenses and medical certificates were all valid at the time of the occurrence. The investigation also noted the discrepancy between the pilot's rotation speed and the manufacturer's recommended takeoff speed.