What happened
On the morning of 1 March 2025, a Sling 2 aircraft, registration ZU-SIG, departed from Worcester Airfield (FAWC) in the Western Cape for a local flight. The flight, operated by Worcester Flying Club, was intended to be a short trip returning to the same airfield. Following a routine flight through the general flying area, the pilot began a base turn to align with Runway 1s.
During this maneuver, the pilot detected a strong odor of burning electrical wires inside the cockpit. As the aircraft transitioned to final approach and the pilot deployed 20 degrees of flaps at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the aircraft's electrical system failed. This was immediately followed by a total engine stoppage. Realizing the aircraft could not reach the runway, the pilot executed a forced landing into a patch of shrubs near the airfield. During the impact, the nose gear struck vegetation, causing the aircraft to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) launched an investigation into the occurrence. The inquiry examined the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the Sling 2 had undergone an annual inspection in November 2024. Investigators also reviewed the pilot's credentials, confirming a valid Commercial Pilot Licence and a current Class 1 medical certificate. The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading from the detection of the electrical odor to the engine failure and subsequent impact.