What happened
On 6 December 2000, a Cessna 150, registered as ZS-FNK, was conducting a cross-country training flight. The aircraft departed from Queenstown (FAQT) with the intention of proceeding to Bloemfontein (FABL). During the flight, the pilot became disoriented and lost navigational direction. While operating approximately 3 NM south of Umtata (FAUT), the aircraft's engine failed. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing on a gravel road. The weather at the time was reported to have cloud cover between 2000 and 4000 feet AGL.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the subsequent landing. The investigation focused on the flight path, the pilot's navigation, and the mechanical state of the engine. The inquiry established that the engine failure was not caused by a mechanical malfunction, but rather by the total depletion of fuel during the flight.