Cessna 182 Forced Landing at Leydsdorp, South Africa (ZS-EGS)

Accident Overview and Aircraft Details On 18 October 2000 at 0615Z, a Cessna 182 registered ZS-EGS made a forced landing on a dirt road near Leydsdorp, South Africa. The aircraft was operating a private flight from Komatipoort to Tzaneen. The pilot-in-command held a private licence and had 289.7 total flying hours, including 64 hours on type. ## Flight Sequence and Accident Circumstances The pilot stated that the aircraft was not refuelled before departure from Komatipoort. While flying at 4,500 feet, the pilot requested low-level clearance from Hoedspruit Air Traffic Control due to low cloud abeam Hoedspruit. Approximately 10 nautical miles from Tzaneen, the pilot determined that the available fuel would not be sufficient to reach the destination and initiated a precautionary landing. During the search for a suitable field, the aircraft exhausted its fuel supply. A forced landing was executed on a dirt road. During the approach, the landing gear contacted and broke telephone wires. In the landing roll, the left wing struck trees, causing the aircraft to overturn after passing under another set of telephone wires across the road. ## Injuries and Damage The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the two passengers escaped uninjured. The accident site was located at Leydsdorp, with GPS coordinates S24° 0512' E030° 2819'. ## Meteorological Conditions Low-level cloud was present at the time of the accident. Later that day, conditions were reported as CAVOC A, with little or no wind.