What happened
On March 15, 2001, a Cessna 172 H, registration ZS-ERA, was engaged in a solo navigation training flight. The student pilot had departed from Potchefstroom, following a planned route that included stops at Parys and Kroonstad, with Klerksdorp serving as a subsequent waypoint before returning to the origin.
After refueling the aircraft to capacity in Parys, the pilot continued the flight leg toward the next destination. At approximately 15:15Z, a local farmer noticed the aircraft flying at an extremely low altitude while traveling in a westerly direction. Shortly thereafter, a loud impact was heard near the farmer's residence. The aircraft had crashed approximately 50 meters south of the farmhouse, located roughly 25nm west of Klerksdorp.
The investigation
The investigation established that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were CAVOK (ceiling and visibility OK). Analysis of the flight path revealed that the aircraft was 13 degrees left of its intended track at the time of the accident. The investigation focused on the flight path deviation and the circumstances leading to the loss of control.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in a training capacity under the command of a student pilot with 35.25 total flying hours.
- The pilot intentionally deviated from the planned flight route for reasons that remain undetermined.
- The accident resulted in 1 fatality.