What happened
On 26 July 2003, a Windlass Trike microlight, registration ZS-WBV, was conducting a series of private pleasure flights at Louis Trichardt Aerodrome. The pilot had been taking several friends up for flights, following a consistent flight pattern: departing from the intersection of Runway 10, turning right to establish a right-hand downwind leg, and then performing a spiral descent to lose altitude before the final landing approach.
During the final flight of the session, the aircraft entered this same spiral maneuver. However, unlike the previous successful flights, the aircraft lost excessive height during the turn. The aircraft struck the ground in a bushy area east of Runway 10/28. The impact was non-survivable, and both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses, including a passenger who had participated in the preceding flights. The investigation focused on the flight sequence and the aircraft's condition. While the weather was clear with no wind, the investigation noted that the aircraft's registration markings were not visible on the airframe.
Technical examination of the wreckage revealed failures in the wing leading edges and the king post, though all luff lines remained attached. The investigation also found that the aircraft did not have a valid Authority to Fly at the time of the accident. Furthermore, due to outdated maintenance records, the total airframe and engine hours could not be verified.
Findings
- The pilot held a valid microlight pilot's license and had 150.2 hours of experience on the type.
- The aircraft lacked a valid Authority to Fly and did not display registration markings.
- The weather conditions were favorable and did not contribute to the accident.
- The primary cause of the accident was a spiral turn executed at an insufficient altitude, which prevented the pilot from recovering the aircraft before ground impact.