Fatal Cargo Flight Crash at Johannesburg International Airport (ZS-OIG)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On an international cargo flight, the aircraft departed Johannesburg International Airport at 0119Z, bound for Eros, an aerodrome on the outskirts of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. The flight carried two pilots and one passenger, along with a substantial amount of cargo. The freight load consisted mainly of express parcels and two heavy steel bars, each approximately 3 metres in length. ## Crash Sequence and Impact The aircraft crashed approximately 106 seconds after commencing its take-off roll. It impacted the ground in a left wing low attitude approximately 700 metres south of the threshold of runway 03R at Johannesburg International Airport. The crash site was located in a marshy area. All three occupants onboard were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed. ## Official Findings and Probable Cause The official investigation determined that the accident resulted from a loss of control, with the aircraft becoming uncontrollable in the pitch and roll axes. This loss of control occurred approximately 35 to 40 seconds after lift-off or rotation. The condition was induced and aggravated by a 16% overload and the exceedance of the certified aft center of gravity (CG) limitation. ## Contributing Factors and Maintenance Status The investigation revealed that the aircraft was overloaded by approximately 16%, equivalent to 699.6 kg. The cargo was not secured, and there was no seat or restraining device in the aircraft for the passenger onboard. Regarding maintenance, the last Mandatory Periodic Inspection prior to the accident was certified on 30 May 2001 at 4,353.1 airframe hours by AMO No. 273. Since that inspection was certified, a further 96.6 hours were flown. The Certificate of Airworthiness for the aircraft was invalid at the time of the accident because both engines had exceeded their time between overhaul (TBO) by approximately 185 hours.