What happened
On 16 June 2007, a Flight Design CTSW, registration ZU-ECO, was involved in an accident during a student pilot training flight. The flight originated at Aviators Paradise Aerodrome, where the pilot had completed initial circuits under instructor supervision. Following these exercises, the pilot was permitted to perform solo circuits and landings at the nearby Brits Aerodrome.
During the second circuit at Brits Aerodrome, the pilot attempted a touch-and-go landing on Runway 02. The aircraft landed to the left of the runway centerline, causing the left main wheel to leave the runway surface. The pilot reported being startled by the noise and subsequently froze at the controls, inadvertently maintaining full left rudder deflection. In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied full power to initiate a go-around. While the Flight Design CTSW became airborne and reached an altitude of approximately 100 feet AGL, the aircraft continued to veer left. Despite attempts to use opposite aileron to correct the flight path, the aircraft struck a fence and a jungle gym located near the clubhouse. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history and the training organization's compliance. The ZU-ECO had a valid Authority to Fly and had undergone its most recent annual inspection on 8 June 2007, with only 42 flight hours logged since that inspection. The inspection was performed by a certified Approved Person. Additionally, the investigation confirmed that the flying school operated under a valid Aviation Training Organisation Approval, and recent audits by the Civil Aviation Authority had yielded no findings.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unsuccessful go-around attempt.
- The pilot's reaction to the initial runway excursion involved an error in judgment, specifically the use of incorrect technique involving cross-controls while the rudder remained fully deflected.