What happened
On 17 February 2001, a private pilot was operating a hired Cessna 2D1M, registration ZS-LZI, on a flight from Richards Bay (FARB) back to Grand Central Airport (FAGC). The pilot, who was working toward an Airline Transport Pilot Licence, had arrived at Richards Bay earlier that morning after an initial leg from Grand Central. After refueling the aircraft, the pilot filed a VFR flight plan for the return journey, despite weather conditions that were not conducive to Visual Flight Rules operations.
During the flight, the pilot departed from the original flight path near the Tugela river mouth, requesting and receiving ATC approval for a low-level route toward the Greytown VOR (GYV). At roughly 1152 Z, Air Traffic Control queried if the pilot could climb to Flight Level 045; the pilot indicated he could not. ATC instructed the pilot to maintain VFR and to report back if a climb was needed at Greytown. Shortly thereafter, at 1156 Z, radar contact with the aircraft was lost while it was traveling at 146 knots at an altitude of 2900 ft AMSL.
The investigation
Investigators located the wreckage approximately two hours after the loss of radar contact. The aircraft had struck high ground at an elevation of roughly 3550 ft, situated about 14 nm from the Greytown VOR. A post-crash fire had significantly damaged the wreckage. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the impact.
Findings
- The pilot was flying under VFR while Instrument Meteorological Conditions were actually present.
- The pilot lacked an instrument rating, though he did hold a valid night rating.
- In an effort to stay below the cloud layer, the pilot failed to maintain adequate clearance from the surrounding terrain, leading to the collision with high ground.