What happened
On the morning of 29 December 2023, a midair collision occurred over Arena Farm in the Carletonville District, Gauteng. The incident involved two aircraft: an Air Tractor AT-502A, registered ZS-XPC, performing agricultural spraying, and a Cessna T182T, registered ZS-STD, conducting a private survey of maize crops.
The ZS-XPC was operating a crop-spraying mission, utilizing a gravel runway located approximately 11 kilometers west of the target field. Simultaneously, the crew of the ZS-STD was flying at a similar altitude to assess crop conditions, a task usually performed by a farm helicopter that was unavailable due to maintenance issues. An eyewitness observed the two aircraft flying in close proximity. Shortly thereafter, the ZS-STD initiated a right-hand turn, leading to a collision with the ZS-XPC. Both aircraft lost control and crashed onto a neighboring farm. The accident resulted in 3 fatalities, with all occupants on both aircraft killed and both aircraft destroyed.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the flight paths, aircraft maintenance, and pilot credentials. The inquiry established that the ZS-XPC was following its designated spray path at the time of impact. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance records for both aircraft, finding that both had been maintained according to approved schedules and no mechanical defects were identified as contributing to the crash.
Regarding the personnel, the pilot of the ZS-XPC held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence. On the ZS-STD, one pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence, while the second pilot's medical certificate had expired. The investigation also noted that while the aircraft were using a shared farm frequency, it could not be confirmed if they were actively communicating immediately before the impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the ZS-STD encroached upon the maneuvering area of the ZS-XPC during a right-hand turn.
- The ZS-STD was a high-wing aircraft, and the wing structure may have restricted the pilot's visibility during the turn, potentially masking the presence of the other aircraft.
- The crew on board the ZS-STD failed to maintain an adequate lookout prior to executing the turn.
Safety action
- It is recommended that Ag-Nav investigate upgrading their flight data software to allow for more frequent data-capturing intervals, specifically moving from 20-second intervals to 1-second intervals to improve flight track accuracy for accident reconstruction.