What happened
On 13 December 2025, a private flight departing from Plettenberg Bay Airport (FAPG) in the Western Cape ended in an accident on the airport's grass runway. The pilot was operating a Windlass Aquilla, registration ZU-BZC, performing a local circuit under visual meteorological conditions.
During the final approach to Runway 30, the aircraft was approximately 20 feet above the ground when a sudden south-westerly wind gust occurred. This atmospheric disturbance caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, resulting in an uncontrolled descent. The aircraft impacted the runway with the nose wheel first, coming to a stop on the left side of the runway. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft and resulted in one serious injury to the pilot, who was subsequently transported to a hospital by road.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators reviewed the pilot's credentials and the aircraft's maintenance status. The investigation confirmed that the Windlass Aquilla was airworthy at the time of dispatch, with a valid Authority-to-Fly and a recent 25-hour inspection completed in October 2025.
However, records indicated that the pilot did not possess the required aircraft type endorsement on his National Pilot Licence. The investigation also examined weather data from nearby George Airport, noting that while the prevailing winds were light, the sudden change in wind speed during the landing flare was a critical factor.