What happened
On September 26, 2001, a PIPER PA36-285, registered ZS-JLI, was engaged in a crop spraying operation near a private airstrip in the Danielsrus – Reitz area. The pilot departed from a grass runway located approximately 3 nm southwest of the target field. After taking off, the pilot proceeded to the spraying site and began the first pass.
While halfway through the initial spray run, the pilot attempted to execute a right-hand turn to avoid rising terrain on the left side of the aircraft. During this maneuver, the aircraft began to lose altitude and approached a stall condition. In an attempt to regain control, the pilot immediately jettisoned the spray load; however, the aircraft struck the ground before the situation could be corrected. There were no fatalities and no injuries reported following the impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the turn and the environmental conditions present at the time of the accident. Meteorological data indicated favorable weather with a 5-knot northwesterly wind. The investigation examined the aircraft's performance during the low-level maneuvering required for agricultural spraying and the pilot's response to the deteriorating flight state.
Findings
The investigation established that the collision was driven by a combination of aerodynamic and environmental factors. Specifically, the increase in stalling speed during the turn, coupled with the sudden introduction of a tailwind component, prevented the pilot from executing timely corrective maneuvers to maintain sufficient altitude.