What happened
On the morning of 22 December 2023, a private flight departed from Farm Elands near Marble Hall, Limpopo, destined for Farm Yzervark in Gauteng. The flight was conducted under Part 94 regulations in clear visual meteorological conditions. During the final approach to Runway 05 at the destination, the pilot reported a sudden surge in airspeed, which jumped from 60 knots to 90 knots. The pilot described the aircraft being buffeted in multiple directions, making control difficult. This resulted in a deep landing where the Sky Ranger overshot the runway and came to rest in a ditch. The pilot, who was uninjured, was able to exit the aircraft independently. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its propeller, nose gear, and the leading edges of both wings.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the aircraft's technical status. The investigation confirmed the pilot held a valid National Pilot Licence and a current medical certificate. While the pilot initially reported experiencing wind shear, investigators noted that the cloud base was at 1500 feet and no specific weather phenomena were present that would suggest wind shear was a factor. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's Authority to Fly had expired prior to the accident. A review of the aircraft's maintenance records showed no defects were reported in the flight folio at the time of the incident.
Findings
- The investigation concluded that the weather conditions were unlikely to have caused the incident.
- It is believed that the aircraft's airspeed was too high during the approach phase.
- This high speed led to an unstable approach and a deep landing, which directly caused the runway overshoot.