History of Flight
On 31 October 2013, a pilot accompanied by a passenger departed from New Tempe Aerodrome (FATP) in a Cessna 172C, registration ZS-CTT, on a navigational flight with the intention of returning to FATP. The flight to Bultfontein was uneventful. After landing, the pilot contacted his instructor for assistance with flight planning for the return leg but did not file a flight plan. During takeoff from Bultfontein, the pilot turned onto an incorrect heading and was unable to reconfirm via radio due to poor reception. He continued flying for approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, noticing increased wind strength. Concerned about fuel remaining, he decided to perform a precautionary landing.
Accident Site
The pilot selected a private airstrip on the farm Palmietfontein, approximately 9 nautical miles west of Bothaville (GPS coordinates: S27°24'620" E026°28'117"). The runway was newly built and very sandy.
Landing and Collision
During the landing roll, the pilot noted that the sand on the runway caused the aircraft to veer in the wrong direction. He struggled to maintain control and the aircraft collided with a steel pole on the side of the runway. The aircraft came to rest with damage to the right wing. Neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained injuries.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172C (serial number 172-48957) manufactured in 1961, powered by a Lycoming O-360 engine and fitted with a McCauley propeller. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated 6034.5 total hours. The last maintenance inspection was performed on 5 July 2013 at 5999 hours, with 35.6 hours since that inspection. The aircraft was owned and operated by Westline Aviation and was on a hire-and-fly contract to the pilot.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 27, held a valid South African private pilot license with an endorsement for the Cessna 172 type. He had a total of 86.6 flying hours, all on type, with 4.7 hours in the preceding 90 days. His medical certificate was valid until 31 August 2014 with no restrictions. He had no previous accidents on record.
Meteorological Conditions
Weather conditions reported by the pilot included a crosswind from an unspecified direction at 20 knots, good visibility, temperature 25°C, and clear skies with CAVOC conditions.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained minor damage to the right wing. There were no injuries to the pilot or passenger.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot had not planned sufficiently for the flight, contributing to his uncertainty about his position. The precautionary landing was unsuccessful due to the sandy runway conditions, leading to the collision with the steel pole. No flight plan was filed for the flight. The aircraft was removed from the accident site before the investigation division was notified.
Probable Cause
Unsuccessful precautionary landing.
Contributing Factors
Lack of flight planning.