What happened
On 14 February 2015, a Lancair 360, registration ZU-YUM, departed Parys Aerodrome in the Free State Province for a private flight. The pilot, accompanied by his six-year-old son, had previously flown from Kitty Hawk Aerodrome and had stopped for lunch at the airfield. After takeoff from Runway 24, the pilot intended to perform a low-level flypast over the runway before returning to Gauteng.
During the flight, the aircraft flew over the town of Parys, performing a right-hand turn and passing over the airfield at a high speed, estimated by witnesses to be around 170 knots. While executing a steep left turn at a low altitude, the aircraft pitched up sharply and then nosedived into a farm named Boomplaas. The impact resulted in 2 fatalities.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses, including a glider pilot on the ground. The investigation focused on the aircraft's flight path, the environmental conditions, and the pilot's physical state. The wreckage analysis showed the engine was at a high power setting at the moment of impact, and the aircraft's path through the terrain indicated a high-speed descent.
Medical evidence from a post-mortem examination revealed that the pilot suffered from severe coronary artery disease. Investigators considered whether a myocardial infarction occurred during the maneuver, which could have led to pilot incapacitation.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating within weight and balance limits with sufficient fuel on board.
- There were no mechanical defects or malfunctions found in the Lancair 360.
- The weather was characterized by high turbulence and a tailwind component gusting between 20 and 25 knots.
- The pilot lost control of the aircraft during a tight, low-altitude left turn.
- A tailwind gust likely induced an aerodynamic stall, contributing to the loss of lift and subsequent inability to recover.