What happened
After completing a survey mission lasting approximately four hours and ten minutes, a twin-engine aircraft returned to Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport for refueling. During the subsequent departure, the aircraft experienced a failure of the left engine while performing its initial climb.
As the aircraft lost altitude following the engine malfunction, the pilot attempted to return to the airfield. During this maneuver, the plane made contact with a tree, which led to a crash and subsequent fire. The accident resulted in two fatalities and two injuries among the occupants.
Findings
- The primary factor in the loss of altitude was the failure of the left engine during the takeoff climb phase.