What happened
On 26 February 2005, a Windlass Trike, registration ZU-ANA, was attempting to depart from the Rasimoni Mining Complex for a private flight to Rustenburg Aerodrome (FARG). The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. During the takeoff roll, the nose wheel of the aircraft encountered a patch of soft sand located on the runway surface. This contact caused the aircraft to veer toward the right and depart from the runway.
As the aircraft left the paved surface, the left wing struck a small tree. This impact triggered a ground loop to the left, which subsequently caused the right wing tip to dig into the soft sand. Despite the impact, there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger. The aircraft sustained significant damage to its propeller, pylon, main wheel, and right-hand wing.
The investigation
Investigators examined the runway conditions and the aircraft's maintenance history. The aircraft's last annual inspection had been completed on 13 October 2004, with 14.2 flight hours accumulated since that inspection. At the time of the occurrence, the aircraft's Authority To Fly was valid. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were reported as calm winds with clear visibility (CAVOK) and a temperature of 20°C.