Cessna 172E Stall After Takeoff at Vereeniging Airport (ZS-DUR)

Accident Overview and Aircraft Details On 19 November 2022, a Cessna 172E with registration ZS-DUR was involved in an accident at Vereeniging Airport (FAVV) in Gauteng, South Africa. The aircraft, serial number 172-51496, had 4,001.6 total airframe hours at the time. It was operating under Part 91 private flight rules with a pilot and two passengers on board. The flight was intended to be a local departure and return to the same airport. ## Sequence of Events The pilot reported rotating from Runway 03 at 50 knots with 10-degree flaps. During the climb, a crosswind from the right caused the aircraft to drift left. The pilot stated the aircraft struggled to climb, and the stall warning activated. The aircraft then lost altitude in a left-wing-low attitude. A passenger noted the takeoff roll was longer than normal and that the aircraft lifted off near the end of the runway. The left wingtip struck the ground first and was severed. The nose gear then impacted an anthill, breaking the strut at its attachment points. The aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted on the perimeter fence, approximately 710 meters northwest of the Runway 21 threshold. ## Damage and Investigation Findings The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose landing gear, both propeller blades, both wingtips, and the empennage. The left wing showed buckling and compression damage. Both propeller blades were bent backward, indicating a power loss that contributed to the stall. The engine remained intact with minor impact damage. Fuel was adequate and uncontaminated. ## Probable Cause and Contributing Factors The probable cause was that the aircraft lifted off before reaching its rotation speed of 60 mph, resulting in a stall shortly after takeoff. A contributing factor was that the pilot likely did not use the required runway length for the aircraft type. The runway was 1,500 meters long, and the required takeoff distance was 264 meters, providing ample room. The investigation concluded that the takeoff run was probably not initiated at the threshold. ## Safety and Regulatory Context The pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence with the aircraft type endorsed and a Class 1 medical certificate. The aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and had passed its mandatory periodic inspection on 28 October 2022. Weather conditions did not contribute to the accident, and the aircraft was within weight and balance limits. The report was issued by the South African Civil Aviation Authority's Accident and Incident Investigations Division.