Incident Overview
On 10 January 2011 at 1850Z, a Boeing 737-200 (registration ZS-SGX) operated by Africa Air Charter was involved in a taxiing incident at Hoedspruit military aerodrome. The aircraft was on a non-scheduled charter flight from O. R. Tambo International Airport to Hoedspruit, where it landed safely and all passengers disembarked. The crew then prepared to return to O. R. Tambo International Airport with no passengers on board.
Sequence of Events
Whilst taxiing to the cleared holding point for takeoff, the pilot switched off the landing lights to avoid blinding an approaching aircraft. As a result, he overshot the turning point in the darkness and found himself at the end of the taxiway with insufficient space to turn around. He decided to manoeuvre the aircraft out of the 'dead end' by turning into the last taxiway, which led to military hangars, and then reversing the aircraft to carry out a 180° turn without external guidance. Whilst reversing the aircraft, the pilot failed to stop it in time, the main wheels rolled off the edge of the taxiway and the aircraft slipped down a steep embankment, coming to rest with the nose-wheel still on the taxiway.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. There were no injuries among the three persons on board.
Weather Conditions
Intermittent rain was reported at the time of the incident.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the incident was an inappropriate decision by the captain to reverse the aircraft at night without external guidance.