What happened
On the morning of 04 October 2015, a pilot was conducting a private soaring flight originating from Potchefstroom Aerodrome (FAPS). After a successful launch at approximately 11:30Z, the Speed Astir IIB glider, registration ZS-GYY, proceeded toward the Orkney area as planned.
After roughly three hours of flight, the pilot contacted a ground advisor, reporting a position downwind of runway 03 and expressing an intention to land at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level. However, the aircraft failed to arrive at the aerodrome. An aerial search was subsequently initiated, leading to the discovery of the wreckage in a field approximately 1.4 km southwest of FAPS, near a South African army base. The impact was severe, resulting in one fatality and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators from the SACAA AIID examined the wreckage and the pilot's records to determine the sequence of events. The examination of the ZS-GYY airframe revealed that the primary flight control systems, including the flaps, spoilers, and elevator, were fully functional and showed no signs of pre-impact failure, jamming, or mechanical disconnect. The investigation also confirmed that the main landing gear was in the down position, consistent with the pilot's landing intentions.
Medical examinations of the pilot showed no evidence of alcohol consumption, drugs, or physiological incapacitation. Furthermore, maintenance records indicated that the aircraft's most recent annual inspection had been performed by a certified professional and that all necessary authorities to fly were valid at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
- The aircraft was structurally sound and all flight controls were properly rigged prior to impact.
- The accident was caused by the aircraft entering an inadvertent spin.
- This spin was triggered by an excessive loss of airspeed during a turn.