What happened
On 3 March 2002, a PIPER PA-28-235, registration ZS-DUE, was conducting a private flight from Brakpan Aerodrome to Morgenzon Farm Private Aerodrome. The flight, carrying the pilot and three passengers, had received permission from the farm owner to land at the destination.
During the approach, the pilot reported that the aircraft appeared to float along the runway longer than expected after crossing the threshold and reducing power. In an attempt to correct the landing position, the pilot applied full power halfway down the runway to execute a go-around. However, the aircraft failed to respond effectively to the power increase and entered a nose-high attitude. Unable to gain sufficient altitude, the aircraft crashed approximately 100 meters beyond the runway end. The impact with a game fence caused the starboard wing to separate and destroyed the undercarriage, leaving the aircraft resting in thorny bushes. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the three passengers remained uninjured.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the flight and the aircraft's maintenance history. Records indicated that the aircraft's last Mandatory Periodic Inspection had been completed on 19 October 2001, at 5011.25 airframe hours. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated an additional 47.88 hours since that inspection.