What happened
On 1 September 2002, a ZS-UHH, a private aircraft, departed from Margate Aerodrome for a flight intended to return to the same location. Shortly after the aircraft climbed to approximately 100ft AGL, the pilot encountered a partial loss of power. In response to the engine issue, the pilot executed a forced landing in an open field situated just off the threshold of Runway 22.
While the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, the nose wheel, and the right-hand wing tip, the pilot escaped the incident without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history and the circumstances of the flight. The aircraft was operating under a valid Authority to Fly, which was set to remain in effect until May 2003. Records indicated that the most recent annual inspection had been completed on 01 August 2003, with the aircraft having flown only an additional 2.76 hours since that inspection. No physical on-site investigation was performed by the authorities.