What happened
On May 25, 2002, a Windlass Trike, registration ZS-WWV, was performing a private takeoff from a grass landing strip located at the Shell Ultra City near Ladysmith. Shortly after the aircraft became airborne, the pilot encountered sudden atmospheric disturbances. The pilot reported that a truck passing on the adjacent highway, which runs parallel to the runway approximately 30 meters away, created a localized wind shear or downdraught.
This sudden change in airflow caused the pilot to lose directional control as they struggled to maintain level flight. During the incident, the left wing of the aircraft struck a light pole situated on the left side of the runway, which subsequently forced the right wing into the ground. While the aircraft suffered substantial damage, the pilot escaped the crash without any injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the environmental conditions and the operational context of the flight. At the time of the accident, meteorological reports indicated fine weather with calm winds and a temperature of +9°C. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid microlight pilot's license and had 112 flying hours on the type.
Technical records showed that the aircraft's last annual inspection had been completed on January 7, 2002, at 211 airframe hours. Furthermore, the investigation established that both the Authority to Fly and the required third-party liability insurance were valid at the time of the occurrence.