What happened
On the afternoon of 6 October 2023, a Cirrus SR22, registration ZS-CFN, departed from New Tempe Aerodrome in the Free State for a private flight to Treverton College Airstrip in KwaZulu-Natal. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions in accordance with Part 91 regulations.
Upon approaching the unmanned grass runway at Treverton College Airstrip, the pilot attempted to land on Runway 31. The pilot reported approaching the runway at a speed of 80 knots, which exceeded the recommended landing speed of 60 to 70 knots specified in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook. During the approach, the pilot decided to abort the landing and execute a go-around. To initiate this maneuver, the pilot applied full power; however, because the aircraft remained in a landing configuration with full flaps, it failed to accelerate sufficiently. Consequently, the aircraft entered a stall and crashed on the right side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. There were zero fatalities and no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a current Class 2 medical certificate. The pilot was highly experienced on this specific aircraft type, with over 900 hours of flight time on the model.
Regarding the aircraft's maintenance status, the Cirrus SR22 had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness. The most recent mandatory periodic inspection had been completed in May 2023, and there were no defects noted in the flight records prior to the accident. The investigation focused on the aerodynamic state of the aircraft during the transition from landing to a go-around maneuver.