Introduction
On 13 November 2001, a Piper PA25-235, registration ZS-JGB, was involved in an accident during landing at Farm Bateleur in the Douglas district, Northern Cape. The aircraft was on an agricultural crop-spraying operation and had just completed a spraying detail. The pilot, who was also the owner, was the sole occupant.
Accident Details
The pilot performed a wheeler landing and was slowing down on the dirt runway when a sudden gust of wind lifted the left wing. The pilot reported that calm wind conditions prevailed at the time, but a thunderstorm was developing nearby, and sudden gusts were encountered. The loss of rudder authority occurred as the tail was nearly on the ground. The aircraft departed the side of the runway and its landing gear went through a ditch, causing the aircraft to overturn. The pilot sustained injuries to his head and neck and was hospitalized for two weeks.
Pilot Information
The pilot was 48 years old and held a commercial pilot license but did not possess an agricultural rating. He had accumulated 2,530 total flying hours, including 73 hours on the Piper PA25-235. The pilot was wearing a safety helmet at the time of the accident.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft suffered damage to the propeller, cockpit, wings, and tail-fin. The extent of damage indicates the aircraft overturned after the landing gear entered a ditch.
Probable Cause
The accident investigation determined that the probable cause was a sudden gust of wind lifting the left-hand wing during landing, which caused the aircraft to veer off the side of the runway. Subsequently, the landing gear went through a ditch next to the runway, causing the aircraft to overturn.