What happened
On 2 December 2003, a BE 200 aircraft, registration ZS-PUF, was involved in a ground incident at Bethlehem Aerodrome. While the aircraft was taxiing from the apron toward the main runway for an industrial aid mission, it struck an advertisement pole. The impact resulted in extensive damage to the aircraft's left wing tip. No injuries were reported following the collision, and the pilot remained unhurt.
The investigation
An investigation into the incident established that the aircraft was operating under clear meteorological conditions, with good visibility and a light westerly wind. The aircraft's maintenance records indicated that the last major periodic inspection (MPI) had been completed on 22 July 2003, at which point the airframe had 10,471 hours. The aircraft had not been flown since that inspection was certified. No formal on-site investigation was carried out by the authorities.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was that the pilot failed to maintain adequate lookout during the taxi phase.
- An advertisement pole, which was partially hidden by surrounding vegetation, was not identified by the crew before the collision occurred.