What happened
On the morning of 23 June 1999, a Grumman G-164A, registration ZS-JEZ, was being prepared for a scheduled crop spraying mission at a farm in Burgersdrift, Wellington. While the engine was running and warming up, the pilot applied the parking brake and exited the cockpit to stand alongside the aircraft. During this period, the aircraft began to move forward unexpectedly. The pilot attempted to intervene but was unable to halt the movement in time. Before the aircraft could be stopped, the propeller struck a stationary piece of farm machinery, resulting in damage to the propeller blades. There were no injuries reported during the incident.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the movement of the aircraft. The inquiry focused on the state of the aircraft's braking system and the pilot's actions prior to the collision. The investigation also addressed the pilot's initial failure to report the occurrence to the relevant authorities. It was noted that the pilot had initially withheld information regarding the event, though he subsequently provided full cooperation and issued an apology for undermining the investigative process.
Findings
- The investigation could not definitively determine if the parking brake had been properly engaged at the time the aircraft began to roll.
- Leaving an aircraft unattended while the engine is running without the use of chocks is considered unsafe practice.