What happened
On 13 September 2022, a DJI Phantom 4 RTK drone, registered as ZT-UJX, was deployed for a mapping mission at the Kolomela Mine Klipbankfontein PIT in the Northern Cape. The operation was being conducted under Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) conditions, following Part 101 regulations.
Prior to takeoff, the pilot performed a standard pre-flight inspection and confirmed the battery was at full capacity. The aircraft successfully launched and reached an altitude of 600 feet. However, approximately six minutes into the flight and roughly 540 metres from the launch point, the aircraft experienced a loss of Command and Control (C2) connection with the controller unit. Although the pilot waited for the automated return-to-home function to trigger, the drone failed to return to its origin. The pilot subsequently searched the area and located the aircraft crashed on the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the airframe, battery, camera, gimbal, and propeller blades.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID confirmed that the pilot held a valid Remote Pilot Licence with both VLOS and BVLOS ratings, as well as a current medical certificate. The aircraft had undergone a maintenance inspection approximately 25 days prior to the incident. The operator held a valid Operating Certificate and a Letter of Approval for the mission. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were noted as fine and were not considered a contributing factor to the crash. Following the incident, the drone was repaired and the battery was replaced.