What happened
On 24 December 2000, a private aircraft was conducting a flight from Port Elizabeth toward a farm located in the Cradock district. The flight was operated by a private pilot accompanied by three passengers, including his wife and two daughters. While performing a low-level inspection of the runway at Cradock, the aircraft was positioned on the downwind leg when it began to experience a roll and yaw toward the left.
Despite engine instruments showing normal parameters, the pilot found it necessary to reduce power on the right-hand engine to regain control of the aircraft. This reduction in power led to a loss of altitude, forcing the pilot to perform an emergency landing in an open field. While the aircraft sustained extensive damage during the impact, there were no injuries reported among the occupants.
Findings
An investigation conducted at the site determined that the bent carbon block of the low-pitch proximity sensor was a critical factor. This component, which is situated inside the low-pitch stop collar, was found to be angled in a way that would have prevented the secondary low-pitch stop from functioning correctly. Due to damage sustained to the electronic circuitry during the crash, investigators were unable to fully confirm the operational status of the propeller pitch control system.