What happened
On 13 March 2006, at approximately 1430Z, an Aspect 160 microlight, registration ZS-WVK, departed from a private airstrip on Weltevreden Farm in the Hartswater District. The aircraft, operated as a private flight, was being piloted by a student pilot accompanied by one passenger.
Following takeoff, the aircraft flew at a very low altitude over a nearby maize field. Eyewitnesses observed the aircraft approaching from the north, noting that the left wing appeared slightly lower than the right. During this low-level maneuver, the aircraft struck an overhead irrigation system structure. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into the maize vegetation, resulting in two fatalities. Witnesses reported that the engine sounded normal and maintained a consistent pitch immediately prior to the collision.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the flight and the aircraft's airworthiness. The investigation established that the student pilot had received significant flight training from his father, though much of this experience was not documented in a formal logbook. While the pilot had completed several dual and solo hours under a certified instructor and had been passed fit to fly the type, he had not yet successfully completed the necessary theoretical examinations to obtain a full Microlight Pilot’s Licence.
Technical examinations of the Rotax 503 DCDI engine were conducted at an approved overhaul facility. Ground testing revealed no mechanical defects that could have contributed to the accident. However, the investigation found that the aircraft's Authority to Fly had expired on 11 August 2005. Furthermore, the aircraft was still registered to a previous owner, and the necessary documentation was being held by that owner due to an ongoing sale transaction.
Findings
- The pilot was flying at an altitude that was too low over the maize field, leading to the collision with the irrigation structure.
- The student pilot was operating in violation of Air Navigation Regulations, as a student pilot is prohibited from carrying passengers.
- The aircraft was not in a valid state of airworthiness, as its Authority to Fly had expired several months prior to the accident.
- The impact with the irrigation system and the subsequent terrain strike rendered the accident non-survivable.