Cessna 182L Forced Landing in Mpumalanga Due to Engine Failure (ZS-FIY)

Incident Overview and Flight History On 22 May 2021, a Cessna 182L aircraft, registration ZS-FIY, departed from Ermelo Aerodrome (FAEO) in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The aircraft was operating under private Part 91 rules with a pilot and one passenger on board, intending to participate in the 2021 President’s Trophy Air Race. The pilot reported that the take-off from Runway 13 at 1130Z was uneventful, and the aircraft reached a cruise altitude of 6,300 feet with engine parameters within normal limits. Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, the engine began to run rough and subsequently lost power, causing the aircraft to descend. The pilot executed a forced landing on an open piece of farmland adjacent to Arnot Power Station Airfield. The incident site was located at GPS coordinates 25°55’56.5” South, 29°49’17.7” East, at an elevation of 5,625 feet. No injuries were reported to the pilot, passenger, or any persons on the ground.