What happened
An international cargo flight departing from Johannesburg International Airport ended in a fatal accident shortly after beginning its departure. The aircraft was operating a route toward Eros, Namibia, carrying a combination of express freight and heavy steel bars. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced a loss of control approximately 106 seconds after the start of the maneuver.
The plane impacted the ground in a left-wing low attitude within a marshy area located roughly 700 meters south of the runway 03R threshold. There were three fatalities among the two pilots and one passenger on board. The aircraft was completely destroyed upon impact.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the aircraft became uncontrollable in both the pitch and roll axes roughly 35 to 40 seconds after rotation. A primary contributing factor was a 16% weight overload, specifically an excess of approximately 699.6kg beyond the permitted limit. This weight imbalance was further complicated by the aircraft's center of gravity exceeding certified aft limits.
Several safety and maintenance discrepancies were noted during the inquiry:
- The cargo, which included two 3-meter steel bars, was not properly secured for transport.
- There was no designated seat or restraint system provided for the passenger on board.
- Both engines had exceeded their required time between overhaul (TBO) by about 185 hours.
- The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness was invalid at the time of the incident.