What happened
On the morning of December 5, 2000, a Windlass Aquilla, registration ZU-BFR, departed from Kwelera Airstrip in the East London region. The aircraft, operated by HS Roos, was carrying a pilot and one passenger, along with various pieces of fishing and diving equipment. Shortly after departing from runway 04, the aircraft was unable to establish a positive rate of climb. Faced with an inability to gain altitude, the pilot performed a forced landing into a grove of thorn trees located approximately 100 meters from the runway in the downwind position.
While there were no fatalities, the impact resulted in one person sustaining a broken right leg, while the passenger suffered only minor injuries. The aircraft itself sustained substantial damage during the collision with the vegetation.
The investigation
Investigators examined the conditions at the departure site and the aircraft's configuration at the time of the incident. The investigation noted that the Kwelera Airstrip was relatively short, measuring only 500 meters in length. Furthermore, the runway environment presented specific hazards, including gum trees positioned along the extended centerline and power lines running parallel to the left side of the runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an overload condition, which prevented the aircraft from gaining sufficient altitude after takeoff.
- The presence of heavy fishing and diving gear contributed to the weight imbalance.
- The aircraft's inability to clear the takeoff altitude necessitated the emergency landing in the nearby thorn trees.