Light Aircraft Nosed Over During Take-off in Northern Cape

Casualties unknown • Runway 31, Wag-n-Bietjie Game Safari, Northern Cape Province, ZA

A Rans S-6 Coyote II aircraft sustained substantial damage after a nose-over accident during takeoff from a gravel runway in the Northern Cape.

What happened

On the morning of 5 May 2023, a private flight departing from Wag-n-Bietjie Game Safaris in the Northern Cape ended in an aircraft accident. The aircraft, a Rans S-6 Coyote II with registration ZU-EWU, was attempting to fly to Graaf-Reinet in the Eastern Cape under visual meteorological conditions.

During the takeoff roll on the unpaved Runway 31, the pilot noted that the airspeed was slow to increase. As the aircraft moved down the runway, it drifted toward the left side of the strip. Upon rotation, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control due to a crosswind. This caused the left wing to stall, leading the nose wheel to strike an animal burrow located on the edge of the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position on the grass. While the aircraft suffered substantial damage to its fuselage, propeller, vertical stabilizer, and nose gear strut, the pilot and passenger were uninjured.

The investigation

SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the departure and the condition of the aircraft and runway. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed and medically cleared for the flight. The aircraft's maintenance records showed it had been recently inspected and was within its valid service period.

Investigators also analyzed the runway environment, noting that the takeoff occurred on a 1200-meter gravel strip. The weather conditions at the time included a 6-knot wind from the east. The investigation focused on the sequence of the ground roll, specifically how the interaction between the wind, airspeed, and runway surface led to the loss of control.

Findings

  • The aircraft drifted left during the takeoff roll because of an easterly crosswind.
  • The aircraft rotated at a low airspeed, which triggered a wing stall.
  • The nose wheel struck an animal burrow on the left side of the runway.
  • The impact of the burrow caused the aircraft to nose over and land upside down.
  • The aircraft's maximum demonstrated crosswind component is approximately 17 knots, which was well within the limits of the 6-knot wind recorded.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the aircraft rotating at an insufficient airspeed, resulting in a stall that directed the nose gear into an animal burrow, ultimately leading to a loss of directional control and a nose-over.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2023-05-05 Rans; S-6 Coyote II accident near Runway 31, Wag-n-Bietjie Game Safari, Northern Cape Province, ZA?

A Rans S-6 Coyote II aircraft sustained substantial damage after a nose-over accident during takeoff from a gravel runway in the Northern Cape.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2023-05-05 involved a Rans; S-6 Coyote II, registration ZU-EWU, at Runway 31, Wag-n-Bietjie Game Safari, Northern Cape Province, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the aircraft rotating at an insufficient airspeed, resulting in a stall that directed the nose gear into an animal burrow, ultimately leading to a loss of directional control and a nose-over.

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