Fatal VFR Flight into Terrain in South Africa (ZS-OSD)

Flight Background and Crewing Details The flight was a private journey intended to take two families to Mozambique for a week during the school holidays after the third term. The aircraft's regular pilot was unavailable due to an injured leg, so a replacement pilot was trained over three days to conduct the trip. The pilot departed New Tempe aerodrome (FATP) on 27 September 2008 with four adults and four children on board. The initial leg was from New Tempe aerodrome (FATP) to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (FAKN), followed by a brief customs stop and a continuation to Inhambane (FQIN) in Mozambique. On 5 October 2008, the aircraft was refuelled with 200 litres at Inhambane (FQIN) for the return journey. The return route was from Inhambane (FQIN) to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (FAKN) for customs formalities and refuelling, where 326 litres of fuel was uplifted. On the day of the accident, the pilot filed a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan with air traffic control at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (FAKN) for the final leg to New Tempe aerodrome (FATP). The aircraft departed FAKN at 1317Z. About 20 minutes after take-off, a witness saw the aircraft flying at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level with wings level in a southerly direction over a farm, heading toward the mountains. The witness noted that the aircraft was flying much lower than usual for aircraft over the farm. Thick mist covered about one third of the mountain top at the time. The witness lost sight of the aircraft and heard an explosion about two minutes later. The witness immediately notified Kruger Mpumalanga Airport authorities that an aircraft may have been involved in an accident. A search and rescue operation was launched after the appropriate authorities were informed. The air and ground searches were hampered by adverse weather conditions in the area where the explosion was heard. The wreckage was located the following day during the air search, approximately 170 feet below the mountain top, where the aircraft had impacted terrain. The aircraft ploughed through a pine tree plantation and was destroyed in the impact sequence and by a post-impact fire. All occupants on board were fatally injured.