What happened
On 20 September 2022, a surveillance flight was being conducted at the Wonderfontein Colliery in Mpumalanga Province. The operation involved a DJI Mavic 2 Pro (registration ZT-XNG) performing aerial survey tasks under Part 101 regulations. The flight was intended to depart from and return to the colliery, operating within visual line of sight.
Prior to takeoff, the pilot performed all necessary pre-flight inspections, including system checks via the DroneDeploy application, and found all systems to be functional. However, shortly after the launch, the pilot's controller unit suddenly lost power, resulting in a dark screen and a total loss of connection with the aircraft. Despite attempts to re-establish the link, the pilot was unable to regain control. The aircraft could not be located at the intended survey checkpoint and is believed to be buried under rocks, potentially following a mine blast at the site. While there was speculation regarding a possible bird strike prior to the loss of signal, no evidence was found to support this.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the operational and regulatory status of the flight and the equipment. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Remote Pilot Licence and a Class 3 medical certificate. The DJI Mavic 2 Pro had accumulated 61 total flight hours and was not yet due for a mandatory inspection. The operator held the necessary Letter of Approval and a valid RPAS Operating Certificate. The investigation focused on the sudden failure of the command and control link and the subsequent inability to recover the hardware.