What happened
On the morning of 30 September 2023, a Bushbaby Explorer with registration ZU-AXT was performing circuit training at Morningstar Aerodrome in the Western Cape. The flight, conducted under Part 1 and Part 141 regulations, was being supervised by an instructor and a student pilot.
During the takeoff roll on Runway 02, the aircraft reached a speed of 45 mph when the student pilot rotated the plane. At this moment, the aircraft drifted toward the left side of the runway centerline. The instructor intervened to take control of the aircraft, but during the maneuver, the left wingtip scraped the runway surface. In an attempt to realign the aircraft with the centerline, the instructor overcorrected, causing the right wingtip to also make contact with the runway. The instructor successfully stabilized the aircraft and aborted the takeoff, subsequently landing and taxiing back to the hangar. The incident resulted in minor damage to both wingtips, but there were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the flight conditions and pilot actions. The investigation confirmed that weather conditions were favorable, with a light north-easterly wind of 5 knots and visual meteorological conditions prevailing. The aircraft's maintenance records showed a recent annual inspection and a valid authority to fly.
Investigators reviewed the actions of both crew members. The student pilot, who was in the early stages of familiarization training, noted that he had not applied enough rudder to counteract the engine's torque. The instructor also noted that his corrective actions may have been too abrupt, leading to the secondary contact with the right wingtip.