South African Civil Aviation Authority Accident Report: Piper PA-36-375 ZS-KTE

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 1 January 2002, a Piper PA-36-375 with registration ZS-KTE was involved in an accident during a commercial agricultural operation. The aircraft was operating in the Hertzogville area, South Africa, under the jurisdiction of the South African Civil Aviation Authority. The pilot-in-command held a valid commercial licence and had a total flying experience of 3,064.40 hours, including 46.55 hours on the aircraft type. ## Operational Context and Accident Sequence The pilot was engaged in a crop-spraying exercise. The aircraft landed on a private airstrip at the Hertzogville farm, where the hopper was filled with approximately 750 liters of agricultural spraying liquid and the aircraft was refueled. Shortly after take-off, at a height of approximately 200 feet above ground level, the pilot experienced a propeller over-speed condition. The aircraft began losing altitude, and the airspeed decayed. The pilot attempted to land back on the airstrip but was unable to do so due to rising terrain in the direction of flight. ## Emergency Actions and Impact In an effort to gain additional lift, the pilot decided to dump the hopper load and extended the flap setting to 20 degrees. However, the aircraft continued to descend rapidly in a mushing attitude. During an attempted forced landing in an uncultivated field, the left wing first made contact with the ground. This impact caused the aircraft to rotate approximately 90 degrees to the left about the vertical axis. The aircraft then skidded for approximately 50 meters before coming to a halt. ## Casualties and Investigation Findings The pilot was the only person on board and was not injured during the accident. The South African Civil Aviation Authority determined that the engine lost power shortly after take-off, which was probably due to a decay in fuel flow induced by fuel contamination.