What happened
On 30 May 2014, a single-engine Cavalier SA 102.5, registration ZU-ALB, was performing a private flight from a farm airstrip near Pretoria to Carnarvon in the Northern Cape. After a refueling stop at Tempe airfield, the pilot continued to Carnarvon, joining the left downwind pattern for runway 23.
During the final approach, the pilot experienced a wing drop and an aircraft shift to the right. As the aircraft touched down, the right main wheel and the nose gear made contact with the gravel surface simultaneously, followed by the left main gear. This sequence caused the nose gear to collapse under the weight of the aircraft. The plane then skidded forward, with the propeller striking the ground, before coming to a halt approximately 70 meters off the right side of the runway. The pilot, the sole occupant, escaped without injury.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the wreckage and the pilot's account of the flight. The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. Physical evidence showed that the nose gear had absorbed a sudden, excessive load, and the damage to the wooden propeller blades was consistent with the engine producing power at the moment of impact.
While the pilot initially reported that strong westerly winds had pushed the aircraft and caused the wing drop, meteorological data from surrounding stations indicated that wind conditions were not severe enough to be considered a contributing factor to the accident.