What happened
On 28 April 2002, a CESSNA C150L, registration ZS-MXW, departed from Cape Town International Airport for a scheduled scenic flight. The flight was being conducted as a private operation with two occupants on board. During the cruise phase, which was maintained at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 feet AMSL, the engine ceased functioning approximately 3 nautical miles east of Kenilworth.
Following the engine failure, the pilot attempted several restarts without success. This necessitated an emergency forced landing in an open field located near the Snaith Racing Stables in Philipi. While the landing itself was executed, the aircraft's nose wheel struck a fence that was obscured by a hedge, causing the aircraft to overturn. The impact resulted in extensive structural damage to the aircraft, though there were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the subsequent landing. The pilot reported that the engine failed when fuel levels indicated one-quarter tank remaining in each wing tank. Prior to the flight, the pilot had personally verified the fuel levels after filling both tanks.
Meteorological conditions at the time were clear, though a wind of 15 knots from the north was present. Although a formal on-site investigation was not conducted, technical inspections of the recovered aircraft revealed that the fuel filter contained fuel and that residual fuel was present in both wing tanks, despite some leakage occurring after the crash. The pilot held a valid license and medical certificate, and the aircraft was noted to have been properly maintained.