What happened
On 24 June 2010, a student pilot was conducting their first solo flight in an Ikarus C42, registration ZU-EFG, at Oudtshoorn Aerodrome in the Western Cape. The flight, operated by a local aviation training organization, was being conducted under clear visual meteorological conditions.
During the landing phase on runway 2 and 2, the aircraft began to veer toward the left. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation using right rudder, but when this proved ineffective, they decided to abort the landing and initiate a go-around by applying full power. As the aircraft lifted off approximately 400 meters down the runway, it maintained an excessively high nose attitude at a low airspeed of roughly 45 knots. This caused the left wing to drop abruptly, leading the propeller and wingtip to strike the ground. The aircraft subsequently cartwheeled and was destroyed, though the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records and the pilot's credentials. While the investigation uncovered several administrative discrepancies—including incomplete logbook entries, incorrect dates in the release to service, and an invalid authority to fly due to an expired compass swing—these maintenance issues were not determined to be contributors to the crash. The investigation also noted that while the pilot held a valid medical certificate, the Ikarus C42 was not officially endorsed on their student pilot licence.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the incorrect go-around technique, which placed the aircraft behind the drag curve and induced a stall.
- The aircraft lacked a stall warning system, which could have alerted the pilot to the impending stall condition.
- The accident was considered survivable due to the low impact forces on the cockpit area.
- Weather conditions were favorable and did not contribute to the event.