What happened
On the morning of 3 April 1999, a Belanca Citabria 7ECA, registration ZS-WLI, departed from Brits aerodrome for a private flight to Klerksdorp. The flight was being conducted to allow the pilot and passenger to attend the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Annual Convention.
Upon arrival at Klerksdorp, the aircraft was part of a busy circuit containing approximately nine other aircraft. Due to an aircraft obstructing the active runway, air traffic control instructed the pilot to change the circuit pattern from 360° to 180°. This resulted in a sequence of aircraft landing in close proximity to one another. During the landing on runway 18, the aircraft encountered a tailwind of approximately 10 to 12 knots. At a speed of roughly 45 mph, the aircraft veered to the left of the runway. The pilot attempted to maintain control using the brakes and rudder, but the aircraft was unable to be recovered.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. It was established that the weather conditions were fine. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's actions during the landing phase, specifically the attempt to manage the aircraft's direction while following closely behind other aircraft in the circuit.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a loss of directional control following touchdown.
- A tailwind of approximately 10–12 knots contributed to the difficulty in maintaining the centerline.
- The pilot was unable to apply engine power to assist in the correction because of the close proximity of preceding aircraft in the landing sequence.
- There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries resulting from the incident.