What happened
On 16 December 1999, a C172H, registered as ZS-PFC, was conducting a private flight from Virginia Airport toward Wonderboom Airport. During the flight, the pilot encountered significant difficulties in maintaining the aircraft's altitude. In response to these performance issues, the pilot executed a forced landing into a sugar cane field located northwest of Pietermaritzburg. While the aircraft suffered extensive damage during the impact, the pilot and the three passengers on board escaped with only minor injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the flight and the condition of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were fine. Records indicated that the aircraft was in a serviceable condition prior to the event and that the aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within permissible limits. Furthermore, the pilot held a valid license with the appropriate endorsements for the aircraft type. The investigation also noted that a misunderstanding had occurred between the pilot and Air Traffic Control at Virginia Airport.
Findings
Analysis of the flight path and environmental factors revealed that the pilot was navigating through a valley, flying against the wind at a relatively low altitude. The investigation concluded that the pilot likely encountered a down draught, which contributed to the inability to maintain altitude and necessitated the emergency landing.