What happened
On 7 June 2023, a Cessna T210M aircraft, registered ZS-MVI, was conducting a private flight from Welkom Airport to Bethulie Airstrip in the Free State province. The flight, operated under Part 9 and involving a pilot and one passenger, proceeded without incident until the arrival phase. Prior to landing, the pilot had contacted the farm owner to coordinate the opening of a gate across the airstrip for their expected arrival between 07:00 and 08:00 local time.
Upon approaching the airstrip, the pilot performed an unmanned joining procedure and flew two low passes over the runway to check for any surface hazards, livestock, or wildlife. The aircraft subsequently touched down on Runway 33. However, during the landing roll, approximately 400 metres from the threshold, the aircraft struck a closed gate. The impact with the gate's structure and associated barbed wire and poles caused minor damage to the aircraft, specifically affecting the propeller blades, both wings, and the empennage. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries as the occupants disembarked safely.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence and a current Class 1 medical certificate. The aircraft's maintenance records showed that the annual inspection was up to date, and the Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Registration were both valid at the time of the event.
Findings
The investigation established that the primary cause of the accident was that the aircraft impacted a gate that remained closed across the runway upon the pilot's arrival. This occurred because the farmer had failed to open the gate as previously arranged with the pilot.