What happened
On the afternoon of 8 June 2025, a formation of three aircraft departed Virginia Aerodrome in KwaZulu-Natal for a private flight. The flight, which included a Piper PA-28-180 with registration ZS-CZU, was intended to land at Ladysmith Aerodrome to refuel before continuing to Gauteng.
As the flight progressed, the crew encountered heavy mist, leading to instrument meteorological conditions. After three unsuccessful approach attempts at Ladysmith—an aerodrome lacking runway lights—the crew of ZS-CZ and its formation mate, ZS-KFB, decided to divert. While a flight instructor in a third aircraft suggested diverting to Pietermaritzburg, the crew of ZS-CZU opted to head toward Greytown Aerodrome, their second listed alternate.
During the diversion, the aircraft entered thick cloud cover with no visibility of the ground. In an attempt to manage the situation, the pilot flying initiated a controlled spiral descent into a sugarcane field near Bloemhof Farm. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and while the pilot flying escaped without injury, the pilot-in-command sustained minor facial injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the flight planning and the crew's qualifications. The investigation established that the crew was not instrument flight (IF) rated, which was a mandatory requirement for landing at Greytown Aerodrome at night. Furthermore, the crew was unfamiliar with the procedures for activating the runway lights at the diversion site.
Investigators also reviewed the timing of the flight. The crew had delayed their departure from Virginia Aerodrome due to a daytime excursion, which ultimately resulted in them attempting to navigate through deteriorating weather after sunset. The investigation noted that the pilot flying made a unilateral decision to perform a controlled crash without informing the pilot-in-command.
Findings
- The crew failed to complete their landing at Ladysmith before sunset, leaving them to navigate in darkness.
- The crew attempted to divert to an aerodrome for which they lacked the necessary instrument ratings for nighttime operations.
- Poor flight planning resulted in the selection of alternate aerodromes that were not viable options after nightfall.
- The decision to delay the flight's departure contributed to the encounter with inclement weather during nighttime hours.
- The pilot flying executed a deliberate descent into the terrain while operating in instrument meteorological conditions.