History of Flight
On Wednesday morning, 1 June 2022, a Grade II flight instructor and a student pilot departed Cape Town International Airport (FACT) aboard a Piper PA-28R-200 Cherokee Arrow II, registration ZS-WAP. The flight was a training exercise conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) by day and in accordance with Part 141 of the Civil Aviation Regulations. The pair intended to perform touch-and-go landings at Stellenbosch Airport (FASH) before returning to FACT.
Before departure, the instructor reported a pre-flight inspection revealed no anomalies, and the aircraft flight folio recorded no defects. The aircraft was refueled to its full capacity of 189 liters (50 US gallons) of Avgas 100LL. After engine start, the student pilot taxied to Runway 01 at FACT and conducted engine run-up checks, with all indications within limits. At 0805Z, the crew communicated with FACT ground control on 120.9 MHz and received takeoff clearance.
Emergency Landing
The flight to FASH was uneventful. The aircraft touched down safely on Runway 19 and took off again. During the climb, at approximately 300 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine spluttered and the manifold pressure (MP) decreased to 25 inches. Power became insufficient for the climb. The flight instructor took control and attempted to troubleshoot the anomaly without success. As the aircraft lost height, the instructor decided to perform a forced landing on the R44 road, about 2.65 nautical miles south of FASH.
The forced landing occurred at GPS coordinates 34°01'29.23" South 18°49'12.39" East, at an elevation of 95 feet. The aircraft was destroyed during the accident sequence.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants were injured: one sustained minor injuries and the other serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No other damage was reported.
Probable Cause
The flight instructor executed a forced landing on the R44 road following an engine failure in-flight, which resulted in damage to the aircraft. The cause of engine failure could not be determined due to lack of evidence.