What happened
On the morning of 6 May 2024, a Cessna 402B, registration ZS-MBH, was conducting a private flight between two aerodromes in the Thabazimbi region of Limpopo Province. The flight departed from Crocodile’s Nest Private Aerodrome with a pilot and six passengers, intending to land at Deza Private Aerodrome. The flight was operating under visual meteorological conditions.
As the aircraft approached Runway 34, which features an upslope, the pilot executed a landing in a north-westerly direction. During the landing roll, as the aircraft's speed decreased to between 20 and 25 knots, the left main wheel drifted off the paved surface and encountered soft sand. This caused the aircraft to veer leftward, leading the left-wing tip tank to strike trees located approximately 98 metres from the runway threshold. The impact broke the tip tank from the wing and caused the aircraft to rotate 90 degrees, eventually resulting in the nose section striking another tree. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, though there were 0 fatalities and no injuries were reported among the seven occupants.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances surrounding the excursion, including the aircraft's maintenance history and the pilot's credentials. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence and was medically fit for the flight. The Cessna 402B was found to be airworthy, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and a recent periodic inspection completed in February 2024. No mechanical defects had been reported prior to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of directional control during the landing roll when the left wheel moved into soft sand.
- The pilot misjudged the clearance between the aircraft's wingtip and the nearby tree line.
- A loss of situational awareness contributed to the impact with the vegetation.