Synopsis
On 25 October 2001, at approximately 0605 Z, a Piper PA-23-250 aircraft, registration ZS-LNK, collided with terrain about 33 nautical miles west of Messina in the Lowveld bush. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. A small post-impact fire erupted and extinguished itself after a few minutes.
Accident Details
The aircraft departed Lanseria Airport on Runway 06 Left at 0434 Z under Special VFR, with a destination given as Vaalwater, approximately 100 nautical miles north of Lanseria. The aircraft did not arrive at Vaalwater and instead was found 140 nautical miles northeast of Vaalwater. An eyewitness standing on a hill about 1 nautical mile southwest of the impact site reported observing the aircraft flying at low level in a northerly direction, in a shallow right-hand turn. The aircraft continued the turn, descended, and struck the ground. The eyewitness heard the engines operating normally until impact.
Wreckage
Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft was loaded with approximately 25 boxes (500 kg) of frozen abalone. Weather conditions at the time were reported as CAVOK.
Probable Cause
All indications are that the pilot was not controlling the aircraft when it collided with the ground, which suggests that he was incapacitated at the time of the accident for an undetermined reason.