What happened
On 6 July 2024, a Beechcraft King Air B90, registration ZS-OHB, was conducting a private skydiving operation out of Mossel Bay Airport in the Western Cape. The flight, operated under Part 91 regulations, proceeded without incident during the initial takeoff and the subsequent deployment of parachutists. However, during the return to the airfield for a full-stop landing on Runway 10, the aircraft experienced a critical loss of airspeed.
While on final approach with full flaps extended, the aircraft was traveling at an indicated airspeed between 75 and 80 knots in light wind conditions. During this phase, the pilot reduced the throttle below the necessary power curve. This maneuver caused the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly and enter a stall. The resulting hard impact upon touchdown caused the landing gear to sever, forcing the aircraft to skid on its belly across the runway before veering into the adjacent thick bush. There were 0 fatalities and no injuries to the two crew members on board.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the flight parameters and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the Beechcraft King Air B90 was airworthy at the time of dispatch, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and a recent annual inspection completed in December 2023. The pilot held a valid Private Pilot Licence and a current Class 2 medical certificate. The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the final approach, specifically the relationship between power settings, airspeed, and the aircraft's stall characteristics under the recorded wind conditions.