What happened
On the afternoon of 1 September 2001, a Windlass Trike, registered as ZS-WXB, departed from Potchefstroom aerodrome for a private flight. The pilot was operating the aircraft at a very low altitude, approximately 90ft AGL, when the aircraft struck the schoolyard of Potchefstroom Gymnasium High School. The impact was severe enough to trigger a post-crash fire that consumed the wreckage. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the flight and the condition of the aircraft. The pilot held a valid license with the appropriate type endorsement and possessed a medical certificate that was current at the time of the event. Records indicated that the aircraft had been properly maintained. While no formal meteorological reports were available for the exact moment of the crash, witnesses at the scene described the weather as CAVOK but noted that the air was experiencing turbulent wind conditions.
Findings
- The aircraft was destroyed by fire following the impact.
- The flight was being conducted as a private operation.
- The primary factor contributing to the accident was the presence of turbulence during low-altitude flight, which led to the pilot losing control of the aircraft.