What happened
On 12 March 2005, at approximately 0415Z, a Piper PA 25-235, registration ZS-FDT, was engaged in an agricultural spraying mission near Wartburg in the Pietermaritzburg area. The pilot was performing crop-spraying duties over a field they were visiting for the first time. During a spray run, the aircraft struck power lines positioned roughly 15 meters above the ground. Following the impact, the pilot successfully navigated the aircraft back to the intended destination, a private aerodrome known as "Klipstrip."
Upon landing, an inspection of the Piper PA 25-235 revealed several areas of damage. The impact caused minor harm to the propeller, the left-hand wing strut, and the wing's leading edge. Additionally, the starboard aileron and the fan blades of the spray pump located beneath the fuselage were affected.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators reviewed the circumstances surrounding the flight and the aircraft's maintenance status. The pilot had performed a preliminary inspection of the area intended for spraying prior to the incident but failed to identify the presence of the power lines. Meteorological conditions at the time were reported as calm with excellent visibility and no cloud cover.
Records indicated that the aircraft's maintenance was up to date, with the most recent mandatory periodic inspection completed in February 2005. The aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness, and the operator maintained a valid agricultural operations licence. The pilot, holding a commercial licence, possessed significant flying experience with over 10,000 total hours.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the collision with power lines.
- The pilot did not observe the electrical infrastructure during the initial area inspection.
- The incident occurred while operating in a new area where the pilot was unfamiliar with the specific ground hazards.