What happened
On 15 March 2014, a Ravin 500 aircraft, registration ZU-FHX, was performing a private flight from Newcastle aerodrome toward Virginia aerodrome. The flight included the pilot and two passengers. As the aircraft approached Emoyeni airfield, the crew intended to execute a low-level flypast of the runway.
Witnesses at the airfield observed the aircraft descending at high speed and high engine RPM. During a sharp left turn and subsequent pull-up maneuver near Runway 15, the aircraft experienced a catastrophic structural failure. Observers reported hearing a loud noise and seeing the left wing fold upward and detach from the fuselage, followed immediately by the separation of the right wing. The aircraft's fuselage disintegrated in mid-air, causing the occupants to fall to the ground. The main wreckage and engine impacted a nearby sugarcane field, triggering a post-impact fire.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage scattered across the Emoyeni airfield area. The investigation established that the aircraft's main wreckage, engine, and bodies of the three occupants were located near the runway, while components such as the elevator and both wings were found hundreds of meters away from the primary impact site.
Technical analysis focused on the structural integrity of the airframe and the aerodynamic forces acting on the aircraft during the maneuver. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that a recent annual inspection had been completed just ten days prior to the accident. The investigation also included a review of the aircraft's design limits, specifically the maximum operating speed (VNE) and the ultimate load factors for the wing spar extensions.