What happened
On the morning of 30 November 2025, a Sling 2 LSA, registration ZU-FWF, was involved in a fatal accident near Morningstar Airfield in the Western Cape. The flight was an acceptance flight intended to facilitate the sale of the aircraft from the current owner to a buyer from Port Elizabeth.
After completing pre-flight inspections and loading fuel, the two pilots departed from Runway 20. Witnesses at the airfield noted a strong headwind during the takeoff roll. The aircraft initially achieved a rapid, steep climb, passing over the threshold of the opposite runway at approximately 250 feet above ground level. As the pilot attempted a left turn, the aircraft entered a nose-down attitude. The pilot broadcasted a message on the ground frequency suggesting a possible engine defect before the aircraft struck bush-type terrain approximately 150 metres southeast of the airfield. The impact forces destroyed the aircraft and resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the wreckage and flight history. Investigators found that the aircraft's engine was not delivering power at the time of impact, and the right-wing root had struck a large tree, causing the wing tanks to rupture. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's flight folio had not been updated to record the fuel replenishment performed that morning, which is a deviation from regulatory requirements. Additionally, the oil reservoir cap was found to be missing from the engine cowling.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating under Part 94 regulations for private operations.
- The pilot flying and the pilot monitoring both held valid licenses and medical certificates.
- The aircraft had undergone a 100-hour inspection recently, in October 2025.
- The aircraft experienced a loss of altitude and a nose-down attitude during a turn, leading to the impact.
- The engine was not producing power at the moment of impact.