What happened
On the afternoon of 6 June 2024, a private flight operating under Part 94 regulations experienced an excursion at the Paradise Creek Game Farm Private Airstrip in Mpumalanga. The aircraft, a Kitfox II with registration ZU-PAT, had departed from Middleburg Airfield (FAMB) and was operating under visual meteorological conditions.
During the landing roll on Runway 32, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft. The plane veered toward the left side of the runway, exiting the paved surface and entering nearby bushy terrain. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the propeller blades, the cowling, and the nose gear strut. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was able to safely shut down the engine and exit the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the aircraft was airworthy at the time of departure, having undergone an annual inspection and received a Certificate of Release to Service in May 2024. The pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a Class 2 medical certificate.
Upon inspecting the aircraft after it had come to a stop, the pilot discovered that the tyre on the left main landing gear had deflated.