What happened
On 24 December 2003, a PIPER PA-24-250, registration ZS-CWK, was preparing for a local aerial photography mission near Kroonstad. The pilot, accompanied by three passengers, completed pre-flight checks and taxied toward the threshold of Runway 07. At the time of departure, the weather was clear, but the aerodrome was experiencing significant wind, with a northwesterly breeze of 25 knots gusting to 40 knots.
While the initial takeoff appeared routine, the engine began emitting unusual noises shortly after the aircraft left the ground. The pilot attempted to rectify the issue by adjusting the throttle and mixture controls. Although the engine briefly stabilized, the rough running returned, prompting the pilot to alert the passengers to the developing trouble. The aircraft subsequently crashed, resulting in no fatalities but leaving 1+2 passengers and the pilot with injuries. Following the impact, the passengers escaped the wreckage, but the pilot remained trapped and unconscious inside the burning aircraft. The passengers successfully extracted the pilot from the flames before emergency responders arrived.