What happened
On the evening of 15 November 2023, a Piper-28-140 aircraft, registered ZS-ESU, was conducting a night VFR navigational training flight. The flight originated from Brakpan Aerodrome in Gauteng with the intention of returning to the same location after visiting Bethlehem Aerodrome in the Free State.
Upon arriving at Bethlehem, the pilot intended to perform touch-and-go circuits on Runway 11. During the takeoff roll following a landing, the aircraft struck a bird. The pilot immediately attempted to abort the takeoff; however, the aircraft's existing forward momentum prevented it from stopping within the remaining runway surface. Consequently, the aircraft overran the runway and collided with a concrete pole that supports the perimeter fence, eventually coming to a rest on an adjacent farm. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing, though there were 0 fatalities and no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the flight sequence and the pilot's adherence to established procedures. The investigation reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records, noting that the Certificate of Airworthiness and the annual inspection were both valid at the time of the event. The investigation also looked into the training organization's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) regarding unmanned aerodrome arrivals.
Findings
- The pilot did not follow the required unmanned joining procedure, which mandates flying at a minimum of 2,000 feet above the aerodrome unless conforming to the traffic pattern.
- Adhering to the proper procedure likely would have allowed the pilot to fly at a lower altitude over the runway, which could have deterred wildlife from the area.
- The aircraft likely landed deep on the runway, leaving insufficient distance for a safe stop.
- A bird strike during the takeoff roll served as a primary contributing factor that necessitated the aborted takeoff.
- The remaining runway length was inadequate to counteract the aircraft's momentum after the pilot initiated the stop.