What happened
On the morning of 27 January 2024, an Ayres S2R-T34 Turbo Thrush, registration ZS-LUW, was performing a ferry flight from Bethlehem Aerodrome to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. The flight was intended to facilitate customs clearance before the aircraft proceeded to Malawi for aerial application services.
During the flight, the aircraft encountered dense fog over the Mpumalanga Highveld. While attempting to descend to regain visual contact with the ground near Ermelo Airfield, the aircraft struck the terrain. The impact and subsequent fuel-fed fire destroyed the aircraft, and the pilot was killed at the scene.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation established that the aircraft was operating under Part 91 regulations and was initially intended for VFR flight. However, meteorological data from the South African Weather Service confirmed that thick stratus clouds and fog had reduced visibility to near zero in the area.
Investigators found that the aircraft was not equipped with essential instrument flight rules (IFR) equipment, such as an attitude indicator. Furthermore, the pilot did not hold an IFR rating. The investigation also noted that while the aircraft's maintenance records were up to date, the pilot was utilizing a mobile navigation app because the aircraft lacked a portable GPS unit.