What happened
On the afternoon of 1 September 2001, a Windlass Trike, registered as ZU-ARS, was involved in a fatal accident near Hartswater. The aircraft had recently been sold, though the official registration had not yet been updated to reflect the new owner. Following a request from the new owner, the pilot arrived at a private farm strip with family members to conduct flight operations.
After completing an initial solo flight and a subsequent successful flight with a passenger, the pilot embarked on a third flight at approximately 1600Z, carrying one passenger. The aircraft departed the farm strip heading north. While flying at a low altitude over a wheat field, the aircraft executed a left-hand turn toward the east. During this maneuver, the left wing struck an overhead irrigation center pivot system. The impact caused the aircraft to nose-dive into the ground. The pilot sustained fatal injuries upon impact, and while the passenger survived the initial crash, they succumbed to serious injuries in the hospital four days later.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the flight and the physical environment at the time of the accident. The weather was reported as clear with a temperature of 23°C. The investigation also noted the administrative status of the aircraft, confirming that while a sale had occurred in late August, the change of ownership had not been legally endorsed at the time of the crash. The investigation focused on the flight path and the visibility of obstacles within the wheat field during the low-level maneuver.