What happened
On 4 October 2025, a Jabiru J430 aircraft, registration ZU-EGF, departed Mossel Bay Aerodrome for a flight to Highway Airfield in the Western Cape. The flight, operated under Part 94 regulations, carried a pilot and one passenger. The flight proceeded normally under visual meteorological conditions until the arrival phase at the unmanned grass airstrip.
During the approach to Runway 31, the pilot attempted a short-field landing but found the aircraft was too high, necessitating a go-around. On the subsequent landing attempt, the pilot misjudged the touchdown point, resulting in the aircraft contacting the grass runway much further down the strip than intended. With insufficient distance remaining to stop on the runway, the pilot steered the aircraft to the left to avoid a perimeter fence located at the end of the runway. As the aircraft exited the paved/cleared area into dense grass, the nose gear collapsed, and the propeller blades struck the ground.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the condition of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed and medically qualified for the flight. The aircraft, ZU-EGF, was found to have been well-maintained, with a valid authority-to-fly and a recent annual inspection completed earlier in the year. Meteorological data indicated light, variable winds and clear visibility, confirming that weather conditions were not a contributing factor to the incident.
Findings
- The pilot landed the aircraft near the end of the grass runway during a short-field landing attempt.
- There was insufficient runway length available to safely decelerate the aircraft.
- The pilot's decision to steer left was a maneuver intended to avoid a perimeter fence.
- The aircraft sustained minor damage, specifically to the nose gear, propeller, right main gear, and right wing, but there were 0 fatalities and no injuries to the occupants.