What happened
On 22 February 2023, a private flight departing from the Pearly Beach private airstrip in the Western Cape encountered a critical emergency shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, a Beechcraft Baron BE55 with registration ZS-COKS, was en route to Oudtshoorn Aerodrome under visual flight rules when it experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines at approximately 1,000 feet above mean sea level.
Following the loss of power and the activation of a stall warning, the pilot attempted to maintain control and avoid obstacles, including power lines spanning the R43 road. The pilot initiated an emergency forced landing on the R43, where the aircraft struck the ground with significant force. The impact caused the nose gear to detach and the right main landing gear to collapse. A post-impact fire broke out at the trailing edge of the right wing, which was eventually contained by a passing truck driver and emergency responders. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was transported to a hospital for observation.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and cockpit configuration to determine the cause of the dual engine failure. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy and had been maintained by an authorized organization. While the pilot had noted and drained water from the fuel tanks during preflight checks, subsequent fuel samples showed no contaminants.
Investigators also noted that the aircraft had been parked for several days, which may have contributed to the illumination of alternator warning lights due to low battery voltage. Crucially, the investigation focused on the positioning of the engine control levers at the time of the accident.