What happened
On 13 November 2001, a PIPER PA25-235, registration ZS-JGB, was involved in an accident at Farm Bateleur in the Douglas district of the Northern Cape. The aircraft, operated for agricultural purposes, had just completed a crop-spraying mission and was performing a landing at the farm's airstrip.
During the landing sequence, the pilot was executing a "wheeler landing" with the tail section nearly touching the ground. While the pilot initially experienced calm conditions, a developing thunderstorm in the area produced sudden gusts of wind. One such gust lifted the left wing, causing the aircraft to lose rudder authority and depart the side of the dirt runway. As the aircraft veered off the strip, the undercarriage struck a ditch, which resulted in the aircraft overturning. The pilot sustained injuries to the head and neck but survived the impact.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the landing. The investigation established that the aircraft sustained significant damage to the propeller, wings, cockpit, and tail-fin. The inquiry also noted that the pilot was wearing a safety helmet at the time of the accident, which likely prevented more severe trauma to the head and neck.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a sudden gust of wind that lifted the left wing during the landing phase.
- The loss of rudder authority during the landing maneuver contributed to the aircraft's inability to maintain the runway centerline.
- The presence of a ditch adjacent to the runway caused the undercarriage to catch, leading to the aircraft's overturn.
- The development of a nearby thunderstorm created the unstable wind conditions encountered by the pilot.