What happened
On 16 November 2013, a private pilot was conducting circuit and landing exercises at Panorama Aerodrome in Gauteng. The flight commenced uneventfully with a takeoff from Runway 05. During the first circuit, while the pilot was on the final approach to Runway 01 at an indicated airspeed of approximately 35 knots, the aircraft encountered a sudden meteorological disturbance.
As the aircraft reached the roundout phase, approximately one meter above the ground, it was struck by a powerful gust of wind. This sudden change in wind conditions caused the Raptor microlight, registration ZU-DKR, to stall. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground with its nosewheel and nosed over. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, wing, and nosegear, the pilot escaped the wreckage without any injuries.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the flight history, aircraft maintenance, and local meteorological data. The pilot was found to be fully licensed and qualified for the operation, with significant experience on this specific aircraft type. Maintenance records indicated that the Raptor was airworthy and had been maintained by an accredited professional. The aircraft's weight and balance were also confirmed to be within safe operating limits.
Investigators analyzed weather cycles from the South African Weather Services, which revealed that the area was experiencing unstable wind conditions. Specifically, the study established that the aircraft likely encountered northeast winds ranging from 15 to 20 knots, with gusts reaching as high as 37 knots.
Findings
- The pilot was caught off guard by a 37 kt wind gust during the critical roundout phase of landing.
- The sudden gust induced a stall at an altitude of only one meter, leaving insufficient height for the pilot to recover control.
- The resulting hard landing on the nosewheel caused the aircraft to nose over.
- Strong and gusty wind conditions were prevalent at the aerodrome at the time of the accident.