What happened
On 1 April 2006, a Cheetah microllight, registration ZU-DZP, was conducting a private flight from Panorama Aerodrome to Baragwanath Aerodrome. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. During the approach to Baragwanath Aerodrome, the pilot encountered a crosswind gusting from the left. As the aircraft attempted to land, it weather-cocked into the wind. Although the pilot attempted to correct the drift using rudder input, the aircraft drifted off the runway surface. In an effort to recover, the pilot applied power, but this resulted in a left-wing stall. The aircraft rolled to the left and struck the clearway, causing the undercarriage to collapse and the propeller to impact the ground. Both occupants escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the aircraft's maintenance history. Records confirmed that the aircraft's Authority to Fly was valid at the time of the accident. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance logs, noting that the most recent annual inspection had been completed on 5 January 2006. At the time of the occurrence, the aircraft had flown an additional 51.4 hours since that inspection. The inspection was performed by an accredited Approved Person. Meteorological data at the time of the accident indicated good visibility and temperatures of 27°C, with winds from 220° at 5 knots, gusting up to 15 knots.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a stall occurring during a landing attempt in gusty crosswind conditions.
- The aircraft's movement was influenced by a crosswind that caused the microlight to weather-cock into the wind.
- The aircraft drifted from the runway surface during the landing phase.
- The application of power during the recovery attempt led to the left wing stalling and the subsequent roll into the clearway.