What happened
On the morning of 6 October 2001, a Cessna R172K, registered ZS-LTO, was conducting a private flight involving the pilot and three passengers. The journey began at Wonderboom Airport, with a scheduled stop in Vryburg for refueling. While the initial leg of the flight proceeded without incident, the final segment of the trip—departing from Vryburg toward Jan Kemp Dorp—resulted in a catastrophe.
Roughly 20 minutes after departing Vryburg, the aircraft struck high-tension power lines near Pudimoe. The impact severed two wires and broke a telephone pole, causing the aircraft to dive into the ground. The force of the impact destroyed the aircraft. The accident resulted in one fatality and left the remaining three occupants with serious injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the flight and the condition of the aircraft prior to the impact. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid private pilot license with the appropriate type rating, and his medical certificate was current at the time of the event. Meteorological data indicated that weather conditions were fine during the flight.
Furthermore, the aircraft was found to have been loaded correctly, with the center of gravity remaining within the required operational limits. The investigation also focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of altitude and the subsequent collision with the electrical infrastructure.
Findings
- The primary factor contributing to the accident was pilot distraction caused by a child on board becoming ill.
- This distraction likely led to an unintentional descent of the aircraft.
- The aircraft's flight path intersected with high-tension wires, leading to the fatal impact.