What happened
On the morning of 3 September 2025, a Morovan Z-526F aircraft, registration ZS-WTA, was performing a private flight from Rand Airport (FAGM) to Tedderfield Airfield (FATA) in Gauteng. The flight was being conducted under visual meteorological conditions.
Following a routine pre-flight inspection and engine run-up, the pilot received takeoff clearance from air traffic control. As the aircraft accelerated down runway 29 and the tail section lifted, the main landing gear unexpectedly retracted. This caused the aircraft's fuselage to strike the runway surface, resulting in the aircraft skidding on its underbelly before coming to a stop approximately 100 meters from the runway edge. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries to the pilot and passenger, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller and underbelly.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft and cockpit controls following the incident. Post-accident analysis confirmed the engine was producing maximum power during the takeoff run. Crucially, the investigation found that the landing gear switch had been left in the retracted position.
While the pilot had completed a pre-flight inspection, the specific position of the gear switch was not verified. The investigation noted that the pilot had recently been flying a different aircraft type (a Sling 4) which utilizes fixed landing gear. This lack of recent experience with the retractable system of the Morovan Z-526F likely contributed to the oversight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the selection of the landing gear switch to the up position, which allowed the downlocks to release as the aircraft gained speed and rotated.
- A contributing factor was identified as poor airmanship, specifically the failure to confirm the gear configuration.
- The pilot's recent flight history involved an aircraft with fixed gear, which may have led to the omission of the gear check during the pre-flight phase.