What happened
On 22 November 2025, a private flight involving a Savannah S, registration ZU-FYX, ended in an accident at Umkomaas Airfield in KwaZulu-Natal. The flight, conducted under visual meteorological conditions, began with a departure from the same airfield. After a 30-minute flight that included a route north toward Durban harbour, the pilot returned to Umkoma to land on Runway 04.
During the final approach, the pilot maintained a speed of 55 mph with second notch flaps selected. As the aircraft was approximately 3 feet above the runway surface, it encountered a sudden windshear. This atmospheric disturbance caused a significant loss of airspeed. As the pilot attempted to flare the aircraft, the loss of lift resulted in a stall. The aircraft subsequently descended and struck the runway with the nosewheel first, resulting in substantial damage to the propeller blades, the windshield, and the nose gear strut. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and verified the regulatory status of the flight and aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid National Pilot Licence with the appropriate type endorsement and a current Class 2 medical certificate. The aircraft, ZU-FYX, was found to have a valid Authority-to-Fly and a current Certificate of Release to Service, with its last annual inspection completed in April 2025.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the encounter with windshear just prior to touchdown.
- The windshear event triggered a loss of airspeed and a subsequent aerodynamic stall during the flare.
- The hard landing was a direct consequence of the aircraft's inability to maintain lift following the stall.