Occurrence
On 9 December 2023 at 0730Z, a pilot and a passenger on board a Savanna S aircraft (registration ZU-IVW) departed Yorkville Airstrip in Kamberg, KwaZulu-Natal Province, on a private flight intended to land at a farm near Ladysmith. The flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) by day in accordance with Part 94 of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
The pilot reported flying toward the Ntabamhlophe area, where low clouds and mist were encountered. He elected to turn right away from the clouds, as he was not instrument rated, intending a turn of approximately 15 degrees from the Ntabamhlophe Mountain Range. However, after the turn, the aircraft became engulfed in mist due to rapidly deteriorating weather. The pilot became disoriented and switched on his navigation device, which he had not activated before departure because he was familiar with the area. The device indicated that the aircraft was 180 degrees off course and located in a valley. Attempting to exit the poor weather, the pilot initiated a right turn to turn back. During this turn, the aircraft flew into the side of a mountain approximately 19.19 nautical miles southeast of the departure airstrip. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital in Pietermaritzburg; the passenger suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Savanna S (serial number 21-06-54-0792) with 210 total hours. It held an Authority to Fly issued on 28 January 2022, reissued on 12 December 2022 (expiring 27 January 2024). The Certificate of Registration was issued on 8 December 2021, and a Certificate of Release to Service on 9 November 2023 (expiring 8 November 2024 or at 300 hours). No defects were reported before the flight.
The 64-year-old male pilot held a National Pilot Licence issued 28 July 2006, reissued 17 July 2022 (expiring 16 July 2024). He possessed a Class 4 aviation medical certificate issued 6 July 2023 (expiring 31 July 2026) with a restriction to wear corrective lenses. His total flying experience was 903.7 hours, including 457 hours on type; in the past 90 days he had flown 37 hours on type. The pilot was not instrument rated.
Weather Conditions
Weather information obtained from Pietermaritzburg Airport (FAPM) at 0700Z on the day of the accident indicated: wind 120° at 3 knots, visibility 7000 meters, temperature 19°C, dew point 17°C, QNH 1014 hPa, cloud cover broken at 700 feet. Although carburettor icing was not a factor, relative humidity was 89% and the carburettor icing probability chart indicated moderate icing probability at cruise power and serious icing probability at descent power.
Findings
The investigation found that the pilot inadvertently flew from VMC into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), became disoriented, and while attempting to exit IMC, flew into rising terrain. The pilot had not obtained a weather report for the en route and destination conditions, and lacked adequate flight planning.
Probable Cause
The pilot inadvertently flew from VMC into IMC and became disoriented; in an attempt to get out of the IMC conditions, he flew the aircraft into the side of the mountain.