What happened
On the morning of 26 November 2023, a Bat Hawk aircraft, registration ZU-XCO, was involved in a fatal accident at Grasslands Airfield in Gauteng. The flight, operating under private regulations, had departed from Aviator’s Paradise Airfield in the North West province with the pilot and one passenger on board.
As the aircraft approached the airfield from the northwest, an eyewitness observed the plane performing a sharp left turn at an altitude of approximately 100 feet. During this maneuver, the aircraft's left wing dipped significantly, causing the plane to nose-dive into the ground. The impact destroyed the aircraft and resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the flight path, the pilot's credentials, and the aircraft's mechanical state. Investigators found that the aircraft was well-maintained, having recently undergone its annual inspection, and showed no signs of mechanical failure.
However, the inquiry uncovered significant discrepancies in the pilot's licensing. While the pilot was proficient in certain aircraft types, his license incorrectly listed an aircraft type he had no experience with, while omitting the types he actually operated. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot was operating the Bat Hawk without the specific type endorsement required on his license.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot losing control of the aircraft during a low-level steep turn, which led to a stall and subsequent impact.
- The pilot failed to follow standard procedures for joining an unmanned airfield, specifically failing to establish the aircraft at the required circuit height of 1000 feet AGL.
- The extreme bank angle during the turn likely exceeded the aircraft's design limits, contributing to the loss of control.
- The pilot's failure to ensure his license correctly reflected his authorized aircraft types was a significant regulatory non-compliance.