What happened
On October 26, 2001, at approximately 07:20Z, a Bushbaby 450 micro-light, registered ZU-CMY, was involved in an accident at Potchefstroom Aerodrome. The pilot, who was undergoing conversion training to transition from a student license to a micro-light pilot's license, was performing a high-speed taxi test in preparation for an upcoming solo flight. While utilizing Runway 03, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft, causing it to veer toward the right side of the runway. The aircraft subsequently entered a trench adjacent to the runway and overturned. While the aircraft sustained extensive damage, there were no injuries and no fatalities reported.
The investigation
Investigators examined the condition of the terrain adjacent to the runway to determine if ground conditions contributed to the loss of control. A report from the CAA Airport Section confirmed that the cable trench located next to the runway was sufficiently compacted to support the weight of the aircraft. The height difference within the trench was found to be within the 25mm limit permitted by ICAO regulations, meaning the trench itself was not the primary cause of the overturn.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of directional control during the high-speed taxi run.
- The area immediately adjacent to the runway was waterlogged, which caused the main wheels of the aircraft to dig into the ground, leading to the overturn.
- A tailwind component was present during the maneuver, which may have been exacerbated by a sudden gust of wind, contributing to the difficulty in maintaining control.