What happened
On the morning of January 27, 2001, an Aviatika 890CSH, registered as ZU-BER, was engaged in agricultural crop-spraying operations near Baynsfield. The aircraft departed from a private airstrip located close to Baynsfield to perform spraying duties on a nearby farm. After successfully completing the initial spray run, the pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft for a second pass. During this turn, the aircraft's undercarriage struck power-line conductors situated at the edge of the field. The impact forced the aircraft into the ground, where it came to rest in an inverted position within the field being treated.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the impact with the electrical infrastructure. The investigation confirmed that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were fine. The aircraft, which had accumulated 36.9 hours on its specific type, was being operated by a pilot holding a commercial license with 706 total flying hours. The investigation focused on the flight path and the pilot's altitude relative to the power lines during the turn.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot misjudged the aircraft's height relative to the electrical conductors.
- The contact between the landing gear and the power lines directly led to the loss of control and subsequent crash.
- There were no injuries reported following the incident, despite the aircraft landing upside-down.