What happened
On 25 October 2001, a PA-23-250 aircraft, registered ZS-LNK, departed from Lanseria Airport at 0434Z. The flight was operating under Special VFR conditions with an intended destination of Vaalwater. During the flight, the aircraft failed to reach its destination and instead struck the ground at 0-605Z, roughly 140nm northeast of Vaalwater and about 33nm west of Messina.
An eyewitness positioned near the impact site observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude while performing a shallow right-hand turn. The observer noted that the engines sounded normal throughout the approach until the moment of impact. Following the collision, a small fire broke out at the wreckage site but burned out quickly. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
Upon examination of the wreckage, investigators discovered that the aircraft was carrying a heavy load consisting of approximately 25 boxes of frozen abalone, weighing roughly 500kg.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path, the condition of the aircraft, and the circumstances leading to the impact. Investigators examined the wreckage and the cargo, noting the significant weight of the frozen abalone on board. Eyewitness testimony was used to reconstruct the final moments of the flight, specifically regarding the aircraft's altitude and engine performance prior to the crash.