Accident Sequence
On 15 August 2015 at 2351Z, a Cessna 441 aeroplane departed from Eros Airport (FYWE) on a medical evacuation flight with two crew and a paramedic aboard. The intended final destination was Cape Town International Airport (FACT). The aircraft landed at Oranjemund (FYOG) to pick up a male patient and his daughter. At 0206Z on 16 August, the aircraft departed from FYOG for FACT. At 0343Z, the aircraft made first contact with the FACT area and was placed under radar control. At 0355Z, area control advised the crew of a complete radar failure. The aircraft was descending to 6500 ft when approach control advised the crew to prepare for a VOR approach for runway 19. At 0429Z, while on approach for landing at FACT, all contact with the aircraft was lost. At approximately 0556Z, the aircraft's wreckage was located approximately 8 nm north of FACT. All five occupants on board were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed by impact and a post-impact fire.
Investigation
The investigation revealed that the aircraft collided with terrain during instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while on the VOR approach for Runway 19 at FACT. At the time, the ILS was working, but the approach controller offered a VOR approach for separation with an outbound aircraft because the radar was unserviceable.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause is that the aircraft collided with terrain during instrument meteorological flight conditions while on the VOR approach for Runway 19.