What happened
On 26 January 2008, an Ikarus C42B, registration ZU-ETF, departed Howick Aerodrome for an aerial survey mission. The flight, which included the pilot and a surveyor, was part of a planned route intended to visit several observation points before returning to Howick via Margate.
While navigating the terrain, the aircraft entered a valley on Glencall Farm. The pilot was following the contours of the earth, transitioning from low to high ground. After passing over power lines, the aircraft became trapped between two sections of rising terrain. A witness on the ground observed the aircraft fly low over the farm before it suddenly pitched upward and struck the terrain. The impact was followed by a fire that completely destroyed the aircraft, leaving only a small portion of the tail section intact. The two fatalities involved were the pilot and the surveyor.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and recovered a Garmin 296 GPS, which allowed for the reconstruction of the flight path using Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Analysis of the GPS tracks revealed that as the aircraft moved into the rising terrain, its speed decreased while it maintained a climb rate of approximately 500 feet per minute.
Engine inspections conducted at an approved facility found no mechanical issues with the Rotax 912 ULS engine, ruling out power loss as a factor. Ground scars at the impact site indicated that the right-hand wing had stalled prior to the collision. The investigation also noted that the pilot held a valid commercial license and medical certificate at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft was flying at low altitude, following the contours of the landscape.
- The pilot became trapped in a dead-end valley with no available escape route after clearing power lines.
- The rising terrain exceeded the climb-rate capability of the aircraft.
- The aircraft likely entered a stall while the pilot attempted to increase the rate of climb to clear the obstacles.