What happened
On the morning of 24 July 2010, a 17-year-old pilot conducted a series of local flights departing from the Light Flight aerodrome near Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal. Having received his National Pilot’s Licence only ten days prior, the pilot completed an initial flight with his mother before embarking on a second sortie accompanied by his father.
While flying in a northerly direction toward Wartburg, the A-2 .22L Foxbat, registration ZU-ESB, passed over the grounds of the Christian Revival Church. As the aircraft flew overhead, the pilot acknowledged a person on the ground by rocking the wings in a traditional greeting. Shortly after this interaction, a loud impact was heard, and a portion of the aircraft's right wing was seen falling away. The aircraft had struck the antenna of an MTN cellular base station mast. Following the collision, the wing folded backward, causing the aircraft to spiral into a nearby sugarcane field. The impact was non-survivable, resulting in two fatalities.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID established that the aircraft was operating under clear weather conditions with calm winds. The investigation examined the flight path, the structural damage to the A-22L Foxbat, and the impact with the 54-meter-high cellular mast. Investigators also reviewed the pilot's credentials, noting he held a valid licence and medical certificate, though with a restriction for corrective lenses. The wreckage analysis confirmed that the right wingtip was lost upon contact with the antenna, which sat atop the mast structure.
Findings
Technical analysis determined that the primary cause of the accident was the aircraft flying at a low altitude when the right wing collided with the cellular mast antenna. The investigation identified two significant contributing factors:
- The pilot's attention was diverted from flight path monitoring while attempting to greet an individual on the ground.
- Sunlight glare on the windscreen from the pilot's direction of flight likely reduced the visibility of the mast structure.
Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot's recent receipt of his licence and the low altitude of the flight path contributed to the inability to avoid the obstacle.