On January 24, 1985, a Cessna 404 Titan (registration N302SP) operated by Southern Cross Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Lanseria, South Africa during takeoff. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft lost control and crashed following the onset of engine problems during the climb phase. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A solo flight ended in a fatal crash near Lanseria Airport following reports of engine difficulties during the initial climb.
What happened
During an ascent following departure from Lanseria Airport, the pilot encountered mechanical issues with the engine. After communicating these technical difficulties to air traffic control, the decision was made to abort the mission and attempt a return to the airfield.
While performing this maneuver, the aircraft type became unstable and lost controlled flight. The descent resulted in a crash located only a few kilometers from the runway. There were no other occupants on board at the time of the impact, and the incident resulted in one fatality involving the pilot.
Findings
The aircraft experienced engine malfunctions during the climb phase.
The loss of control occurred shortly after the decision to return to the airport was made.
Probable cause
The aircraft lost control and crashed following the onset of engine problems during the climb phase.