What happened
On 9 November 1997, an Atlas C4M (registration ZS-WWP) departed from a private airstrip located at Eilandslaagte, approximately 35km southeast of Potchefstroom. The aircraft, operated by Kuhn M.J., was carrying the pilot and eight passengers for a private flight intended for Potchefstroom Airfield.
Shortly after departing the grass runway in an easterly direction and initiating a left turn, the aircraft began to lose altitude. The pilot was unable to recover the descending flight path and was forced to execute an emergency landing. While there were no fatalities or injuries among the nine people on board, the aircraft was destroyed by fire following the impact.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the takeoff from the Eilandslaagte airstrip. The investigation focused on the aircraft's performance during the initial climb phase and the environmental conditions of the runway. Meteorological data at the time indicated fine weather with a surface temperature of +25ºC and an easterly wind of 5-10kt.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot took off with an overloaded aircraft.
- The grass runway used for departure was insufficient in length for the aircraft's weight and the prevailing takeoff conditions.
- The aircraft's performance likely fell on the wrong side of the drag curve, preventing the pilot from maintaining altitude after the initial turn.