Hawker Siddeley 748 crashes in mountains during missed approach at George

Casualties unknown • In Vandalenskloof, 7.6 nm from GGV, ZA

A scheduled freight flight operating a **Hawker Siddeley 748** crashed into terrain near George Aerodrome following a deviation from procedure during a missed approach.

What happened

On 1 June 2002, at approximately 0515Z, a Hawker Siddeley 748, registration ZS-OJU, was conducting a scheduled freight operation from Bloemfontein to George. As the aircraft approached George Aerodrome, the crew encountered challenging weather characterized by rain and low cloud cover. During the attempt to land on Runway 29 using the Instrument Landing System (ILS), the ground-based ILS equipment proved intermittently unreliable. In response to these technical inconsistencies, the crew initiated a missed approach procedure.

However, during the climb and maneuvering phase of the missed approach, the aircraft failed to follow the established published procedures. Influenced by heavy Southwesterly winds and potentially inaccurate heading information, the crew lost situational awareness regarding the aircraft's position. This led the aircraft into a valley, resulting in a controlled impact with the side of a mountain in the Vandalenskloof area, approximately 7.6 nm from the aerodrome. The accident resulted in 2+1 fatalities.

The investigation

SACAA AIID investigators examined the flight path, the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, and the operational environment at George Aerodrome. The inquiry focused on the crew's adherence to the missed approach instructions and the functionality of the navigation aids. The investigation scrutinized the impact of the weather, specifically the presence of strong winds, and evaluated the reliability of the ILS and the serviceability of the aircraft's directional gyro during the approach.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was the crew's deviation from the prescribed missed approach procedure while operating in Instrument Meteorological Conditions.
  • A loss of situational awareness occurred because the aircraft drifted off its intended course.
  • The presence of strong upper Southwesterly winds acted as an aggravating factor during the maneuver.
  • Contributing factors included the intermittent unreliability of the ILS at George Aerodrome.
  • The investigation also identified issues regarding the serviceability of the directional gyro and the presence of uncleared defects.

Probable cause

The crew deviated from the established missed approach procedure during an ILS landing attempt in poor weather, leading to a loss of situational awareness and a controlled flight into terrain, exacerbated by strong winds and unreliable navigation aids.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2002-06-01 Hawker Siddely 748 accident near In Vandalenskloof, 7.6 nm from GGV, ZA?

A scheduled freight flight operating a **Hawker Siddeley 748** crashed into terrain near George Aerodrome following a deviation from procedure during a missed approach.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2002-06-01 involved a Hawker Siddely 748, registration ZS-OJU, at In Vandalenskloof, 7.6 nm from GGV, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew deviated from the established missed approach procedure during an ILS landing attempt in poor weather, leading to a loss of situational awareness and a controlled flight into terrain, exacerbated by strong winds and unreliable navigation aids.

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