What happened
On 30 November 2002, a Piper PA28-161, registration ZS-OSX, was attempting a takeoff from Runway 02 at Brits Aerodrome. The aircraft was operating under high-density altitude conditions and was utilizing an up-sloping runway. During the initial ground roll, the aircraft exhibited poor acceleration. By the time the aircraft had traversed roughly half of the runway length, the airspeed was insufficient for flight. In response, the pilot initiated an aborted takeoff. However, the aircraft could not be brought to a halt within the remaining runway distance, resulting in the plane skidding off the end of the runway, veering to the right, and striking nearby vegetation. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries among the three people on board.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the environmental and mechanical factors present during the incident. The investigation confirmed that the meteorological conditions included light and variable winds with high temperatures of 31°C, which contributed to the high-density altitude. The inquiry also reviewed the maintenance history of the aircraft, noting that the most recent Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) had been completed approximately 52 hours prior to the accident. Records indicated that all necessary Airworthiness Directs and Service Bulletins had been addressed during that inspection by a certified maintenance organization.
Findings
Several critical factors led to the runway excursion. The primary cause was the insufficient runway length available to stop the aircraft following the decision to abort the takeoff due to poor acceleration. Contributing to this difficulty was the pilot's decision to attempt a departure from an up-sloping runway during high-density altitude conditions, which significantly impacted the aircraft's performance. Additionally, a malfunctioning tachometer prevented the pilot from receiving accurate RPM readings, creating uncertainty regarding whether the engine was delivering full power during the takeoff roll.