What happened
On 15 November 2008, a private microlight flight departed from Henley Private Aerodrome with the intention of returning to the same location. The flight involved a pilot and one passenger. During the flight, the aircraft, a Beaver RX 650 with registration ZS-WRF, performed a low-altitude fly-past over a property in Klipview, Randvaal.
An eyewitness observed the aircraft traveling from east to west. While flying at a height level to a nearby house, the aircraft's nose pitched upward, appearing as though the pilot was attempting to clear overhead power lines. This maneuver caused the left wing to strike the ground, leading to a loss of directional control. The aircraft subsequently crashed, impacting a perimeter fence. The impact destroyed the cabin area and caused the engine to separate from the airframe.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses to reconstruct the flight path. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's engine was running at the time of the accident. Maintenance records were reviewed, showing that the aircraft had undergone its last annual inspection approximately 18 hours prior to the event, and no mechanical defects or maintenance anomalies were reported. The pilot was found to be properly licensed with a valid medical certificate and had no prior history of accidents.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.
- The sudden pitch-up maneuver resulted in the pilot losing control of the aircraft.
- The impact was severe enough that the destruction of the cabin rendered the accident non-survivable, resulting in 2 fatalities.
- Meteorological conditions were favorable, with clear visibility and light winds, and were not a contributing factor.