What happened
On 3 June 2010, an Ayres S2R-T15, registration ZS-OTA, was performing a takeoff roll at Greefdale Private Aerodrome near Hartswater for a scheduled crop spraying mission. During the acceleration phase, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft. As the plane veered off course, the left wing struck a tree located adjacent to the runway. This impact triggered a ground loop, causing the aircraft to rotate 180 degrees and become entangled in nearby vegetation. The pilot sustained minor injuries to the hand, but no other occupants were on board.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft, the site, and the pilot's records. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, with a valid certificate of airworthiness and a recent maintenance inspection. The pilot held a valid commercial license with the appropriate agricultural ratings and significant experience, having logged over 4,771 hours on this specific type.
Analysis of the aerodrome layout revealed that the grass runway was approximately 800 meters long and 17.5 meters wide. Given that the wingspan of the Ayres S2R-T15 is approximately 14.5 meters, the investigation found that the aircraft had a very narrow margin of error—only about 1.5 meters of clearance on either side of the wingtips between the runway edge and the bordering trees.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of directional control during the takeoff roll.
- The narrow width of the runway relative to the aircraft's wingspan provided insufficient space to recover once the deviation began.
- The pilot did not have the necessary time or space to correct the aircraft's path after the initial loss of control.
- Weather conditions were calm with good visibility, and therefore did not contribute to the event.
- The aircraft was mechanically sound and properly maintained prior to the incident.