What happened
On 09 December 2003, a Wild Hawk microlight, registration ZU-BZL, was engaged in a conversion training session. The flight involved an instructor and a student pilot, who also owned the aircraft. The mission began with a departure from Petit Aerodrome, heading toward Bapsfontein Aerodrome to conduct training maneuvers.
After completing two successful training flights at Bapsfontein, the crew attempted to return to Petit Aerodrome. During the takeoff from Runway 02, the aircraft encountered significant wind conditions. Shortly after lifting off, the aircraft entered a right-hand turn. This maneuver, combined with a strong crosswind from the left, caused a sudden loss of lift. The aircraft entered a stall and struck a field located approximately 500 meters east of the Bapsfontein Aerodrome. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight conditions and the aircraft's behavior during the accident sequence. Witnesses at the scene observed the aircraft maintaining an extremely high nose attitude before the crash, noting that the left wing appeared to stall first. Meteorological data at the time indicated a surface wind of 310 degrees at 15 knots, though witnesses estimated the wind strength to be between 18 and 20 knots. Notably, a local microlight training school had already suspended all flight operations for the day due to the high wind speeds prior to the occurrence.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing a low-level right-hand turn immediately following takeoff.
- This maneuver resulted in the aircraft encountering a strong tailwind condition.
- The aerodynamic consequences of the turn and the wind direction led to a loss of lift and a subsequent stall.