What happened
On the morning of 14 November 2024, a Jabiru J430 aircraft, registration ZU-EOE, was conducting a private flight from Rhino Park Aerodrome to Kitty Hawk Aerodrome (FAKT) in Gauteng. The flight was operating under visual meteorological conditions. After a routine departure and an uneventful transit, the pilot entered the circuit for a landing on Runway 01.
During the final approach, the pilot encountered a situation requiring a decision regarding nearby powerlines located south of the runway. To avoid a potential collision with these lines, the pilot executed a landing that was significantly further down the runway than ideal, touching down more than one-third of the way along the strip. This deep landing left insufficient distance for the aircraft to decelerate. Consequently, the aircraft overran the runway, exiting the paved surface and rolling into a ditch beyond the threshold. The impact resulted in substantial structural damage to the propeller, the nose, and the left main landing gear. No injuries were reported for the two occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the aircraft's maintenance records and the pilot's credentials. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a current Class 2 medical certificate. The aircraft, ZU-EOE, was found to be in compliance with maintenance requirements, having undergone its last annual inspection in July 2024. The investigation also reviewed the runway characteristics at FAKT, noting that the runway is situated on an upslope and that the pilot's landing distance calculations, adjusted for field elevation, required approximately 672 meters of runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the aircraft landed deep on the runway to avoid powerlines, which left the pilot with insufficient remaining runway to bring the aircraft to a complete stop.
- The pilot's decision to land further down the runway was motivated by the presence of powerlines at an elevation of approximately 700 feet, which posed a collision risk during an earlier touchdown on final approach.