What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from Johannesburg-Rand Airport, the aircraft experienced a failure of the left engine. In response to the loss of power, the pilot initiated a left-hand circuit with the intention of performing an emergency landing at the departure airfield.
As the flight continued, the aircraft became uncontrollable and descended into the ground approximately 2 km from the runway threshold. The accident resulted in 3 fatalities, including the captain and two passengers, while 8 other occupants sustained injuries, including the co-pilot.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor was an engine failure of unknown origin.