What happened
On 1 March 2000, a Cessna 414, registration ZS-MDT, was conducting a commercial flight from Gaborone to Maun, Botswana. The flight had previously departed from Lanseria and had stopped in Gaborone for refueling and customs clearance, where three additional passengers boarded the aircraft.
Roughly ninety minutes into the flight, the pilot observed oil leaking from the port engine, which was accompanied by a drop in oil pressure and an increase in oil temperature. In an attempt to manage the mechanical issue, the pilot shut down the port engine. However, this action caused the aircraft to lose altitude. While attempting to locate a safe site for an emergency descent, the pilot bypassed several potential landing zones and ultimately crash-landed the aircraft in a thick forest approximately 220 km east of Maun.
Following the impact, a fire broke out and destroyed the aircraft. While all five occupants survived the initial crash, they sustained various injuries. After the accident, the pilot and one passenger attempted to trek through the bush to find help. They eventually encountered a hunting camp four days later, which triggered a search and rescue operation. The remaining passengers were successfully rescued on 6 March 2000.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the flight's operation. During the inspection of the engines, the oil cap for the port engine could not be found. Although both engines and propellers appeared to be in serviceable condition prior to the event, the investigation noted that the aircraft was being operated without a valid Certificate of Airworthiness. Additionally, while the pilot characterized the flight as private, evidence suggested that the passengers had contributed financially to the flight costs.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft following the shutdown of the port engine.
- The engine failure was preceded by visible oil leakage, pressure loss, and rising temperatures.
- The aircraft was being operated in a commercial capacity without a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.