What happened
On the morning of 23 September 2024, a Kit Fox 7 SS, registered ZU-FOA, was conducting a private flight between two airstrips in the Northern Cape province. The flight departed from Dundi Lodge private airstrip, heading toward the Raap en Skraap private airstrip under visual meteorological conditions.
As the aircraft approached the destination, the pilot noted significant wind activity, observing a north-easterly wind of approximately 25 knots. To manage the conditions, the pilot selected maximum flap settings for a crosswind landing on Runway 01. However, during the touchdown phase, a sudden increase in the crosswind from the right side caused the pilot to lose directional control. The aircraft veered left and entered a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the lower airframe and undercarriage. There were no injuries to the two occupants on board.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of control. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy and had undergone a 100-hour inspection approximately 17 hours prior to the event. The pilot, who held a valid Private Pilot Licence and significant experience on this specific aircraft type, had performed a pre-flight inspection and had sufficient fuel for the mission.
Data gathered from the pilot's questionnaire indicated that the crosswind at the time of the incident was approximately 14.34 knots, which was very close to the aircraft's maximum demonstrated crosswind limit of 15 knots.