What happened
On the morning of 7 August 2025, a private pilot was conducting a scenic flight from Morningstar Airfield to the Altona Airstrip in the Western Cape. The flight was operating under visual meteorological conditions in accordance with Part 94 regulations. After performing two low-level flyovers to assess the runway, the pilot commenced the landing approach in a Sonex A-Model, registration ZU-FEH.
The aircraft touched down at approximately 1012Z with a landing speed of 65 knots. During the landing roll, the pilot observed a brown cardboard box positioned in the middle of the runway. Unable to determine if the box contained hazardous contents, the pilot executed an immediate leftward maneuver to avoid a potential collision. During this evasive action, the left main wheel encountered a mud patch, causing the aircraft to lose directional control. The aircraft exited the runway and came to rest in a nearby canola field, with the nose section embedded in vegetation.
The pilot safely exited the aircraft without injury. A subsequent inspection of ZU-FEel revealed minor damage to the propeller, nose landing gear strut, right main gear, and the leading edge and tip of the right wing. The cardboard box was later found to be empty.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the runway excursion and the state of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a current Class 2 medical certificate. The aircraft's maintenance records showed it had been recently inspected and was within its valid authority-to-fly period.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to perform an evasive maneuver to avoid an obstacle on the runway led to the loss of directional control.
- The presence of a cardboard box on the runway surface acted as the primary trigger for the incident.