What happened
On 3 October 2025, a student pilot was preparing for a solo training flight from Morningstar Airfield in the Western Cape. The flight, conducted under visual meteorological conditions, was intended to be a routine trip to the general flying area and back. Following a standard pre-flight inspection and successful engine run-up checks, the pilot began the take-off roll on Runway 20.
During the acceleration phase, the aircraft encountered crosswind conditions that caused the pilot to lose directional control. The Sling 2, registration ZU-IAZ, veered off the left side of the runway and onto the adjacent grass. The impact of the excursion caused the nose gear strut to fail, resulting in the aircraft pitching forward until the propeller blades struck the ground. The aircraft came to a stop in a nose-down position. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the excursion, including the aircraft's maintenance history and the prevailing weather. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft had undergone a recent annual inspection and was in a valid state of airworthiness. The student pilot was found to be properly licensed and medically qualified for the training operation. Meteorological data from the time of the incident indicated a light but variable wind, with a left crosswind component of approximately 3 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's loss of directional control during the take-off roll.
- A significant contributing factor was that the pilot did not adequately compensate for the crosswind during the take-off sequence.
- The excursion resulted in minor damage to the aircraft, specifically to the propeller blades, the nose gear strut, and the lower engine cowling.