Accident Overview
On 12 November 1999 at 1520Z, a Piper PA22-150 (registration ZS-DID) conducted a solo cross-country training flight. The aircraft departed from Grahamstown with the intention of returning to the same airport. The pilot, a student with a valid license, had accumulated 46.7 total flying hours, of which 10.7 were on the accident aircraft type.
Sequence of Events
Approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes after departure, the pilot detected a vibration in the control column. Observing the control surfaces from the cockpit, he noted that the starboard (right) stabilizer and elevator control surface was fluttering. Despite the increasing vibration, the pilot continued the flight for about 10 minutes before deciding to execute a forced landing.
Aircraft Damage
The forced landing took place in the Orchards District, Albany, approximately 10 nautical miles northeast of Grahamstown. The terrain was densely vegetated, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage during the landing. The pilot was not injured.
Probable Cause
The failure of the elevator control surface could be attributed to an overload failure. Electron microscope tests of the failed control surface indicated that the control surface must have struck or impacted an object that caused it to fail.