What happened
On 8 May 2002, a PA-28-235 aircraft, registration ZS-EBO, was conducting a private flight from Wouterspan to New Tempe aerodrome. The flight, which included the pilot and one passenger, began in the early morning hours. During the flight, the pilot decided to divert to Douglas for a refueling stop.
While en route to the second destination, the pilot attempted to switch fuel from the left main tank to the right main tank, which triggered an engine failure. The engine was successfully restarted by switching back to the left main tank. However, as the aircraft approached the Krugersdrif dam area, the fuel gauge for the left main tank showed a rapid decline in fuel levels. A subsequent attempt to utilize the tip tanks also resulted in engine failure, necessitating another switch back to the left main tank to maintain power.
While established on the long final approach for Runway 19, the engine failed for a third time. The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing in an agricultural field located roughly 1nm north of New Tempe aerodrome. While there were no injuries to the occupants, the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and the left main wheel, and the nose gear collapsed after the nose wheel impacted soft ground.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the pre-flight procedures and the sequence of fuel management decisions. The inquiry looked into the pilot's ability to verify fuel levels during the initial inspection and the accuracy of the fuel quantity gauges during the flight. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's calculations regarding the remaining fuel endurance and the impact of the diversion on the total fuel reserves.