What happened
On 30 January 2014, a Piper PA-28-180, registration ZS-JGU, departed from Volksrust Aerodrome for a cross-country flight to Richards Bay. The flight was being conducted by a private pilot accompanied by a flight instructor.
Immediately following rotation on runway 28, the pilot applied excessive back pressure on the control column. This caused the aircraft to adopt a much higher nose attitude than required for a standard climb, leading to a decay in airspeed and an eventual stall. During the onset of the stall, the pilot flying became unresponsive on the controls. The instructor pilot took command to attempt a recovery; however, to avoid colliding with trees in the flight path, he maneuvered the aircraft to the left of the runway centerline. The aircraft subsequently crash landed in an open grassy field approximately 0.2 nm west of the aerodrome. Both occupants exited the aircraft without injury, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the aircraft's maintenance history and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft had been maintained by an approved organization and was in a serviceable condition, with no mechanical defects contributing to the event. Meteorological conditions were found to be within visual meteorological limits (VMC) and were not a factor.
Investigators also reviewed the flight dynamics, noting that while the aircraft initially achieved a suitable climb profile, the continued application of back pressure by the pilot led to the loss of airspeed. The investigation also noted that the instructor's decision to turn left was a necessary maneuver to avoid obstacles during the stall recovery attempt.