What happened
On 14 March 2012, a commercial pilot was conducting a ferry flight in an Ikarus C42, registration ZU-EUZ, from Dendron aerodrome to Kitty Hawk aerodrome. While the flight was initially uneventful, the pilot deviated from the planned route to fly over a friend's residence near the Bronkhorstspruit dam.
To facilitate low-level maneuvering, the pilot deployed two notches of flaps to reduce the stall speed and flew at approximately 100ft AGL. While attempting to execute a left-hand turn to return to the original flight path, the pilot focused on avoiding a radio mast on a nearby hill. This maneuver involved a steep bank angle that led to a loss of situational awareness. The aircraft entered a stall characterized by a high nose-up attitude and a significant increase in sink rate. Although the pilot applied full power as the nose dropped, the aircraft was at an insufficient altitude to recover before impacting the rocky terrain. The impact resulted in extensive damage to the wings, fuselage, and nose section of the aircraft.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the flight sequence, the pilot's actions, and the aircraft's condition. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was properly licensed and medically cleared for the flight. The aircraft's maintenance records showed that the most recent mandatory inspection had been completed shortly before the accident, and the aircraft was in an airworthy condition with no mechanical defects reported. The investigation also noted that the pilot had reported his position and intentions to air traffic services via radio prior to the deviation.
Findings
- The pilot became disoriented during a sharp, steep-banked turn while attempting to avoid a radio mast.
- The aircraft entered a stall due to low airspeed and a high nose-up attitude.
- The pilot disregarded safety standards by operating the aircraft at an extremely low altitude of approximately 100ft AGL.
- The aircraft was too low to permit a successful recovery from the stall before ground impact.
- The pilot sustained minor injuries to his left shoulder but was discharged from the hospital after two days of observation.