What happened
On 18 January 2005, a private flight departed from Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB) with the intention of traveling to Harrismith Aerodrome (FAHS). During the flight, the pilot notified air traffic controllers that the flight path had been modified, with the new intended destination being Springs via Delmas. The aircraft was carrying a total of five people, including the pilot and four passengers.
At approximately 1455Z, the aircraft struck the ground near Cornelia. At the moment of impact, the aircraft was traveling at a high forward speed and a high rate of descent. The aircraft's attitude was noted as having a 15-degree nose-down pitch and a 30-degree right-wing low position, while the nose was oriented toward a heading of 211 degrees magnetic. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and five fatalities.
Findings
At the time of the accident, the local weather was characterized by partly cloudy skies and isolated thundershowers. While no direct witnesses to the crash were present, residents in the area reported experiencing a severe storm near the crash site around the time of the incident.