What happened
On 17 July 1999, an Ayres S-2R - T34, registration ZS-LDI, was conducting a fire bombing exercise in the Bulwer region. The aircraft departed from Pietermaritzburg Aerodrome with the intention of landing at the Epsom airstrip, a grass runway located on a plantation.
As the aircraft touched down on the grass runway, it was struck by a powerful gust of wind originating from the port side. This sudden lateral force caused the aircraft to veer toward the right side of the runway. During the excursion, the starboard main landing gear descended into a hole, which subsequently caused the nose of the aircraft to dig into the ground. The impact resulted in the starboard wing striking the terrain. The engine was at idle power during this sequence of events. No injuries were reported following the incident.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the landing at the Epsom airstrip. The investigation focused on the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, which were characterized by fine weather and 15-knot winds. The inquiry also reviewed the pilot's maneuvers and the physical characteristics of the runway surface and surrounding embankment.