What happened
On August 3, 2002, a Cessna 206, registration ZS-MXZ, was conducting a private flight involving a pilot and four passengers. The flight's itinerary originally began in Hazyview, with a stop at Potgiermusterus to refuel before proceeding to Pietersburg (FAPI). During the pre-flight inspection at the initial departure point, the pilot recorded approximately 150 litres of fuel, distributed with 90 litres in the left tank and 60 litres in the right tank.
During the second leg of the journey, roughly five minutes after departing Potgietersrus, the pilot transitioned the fuel supply from the left tank to the right tank. While the aircraft was maneuvering for the final approach to Runway 26 at an altitude of about 400 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot observed a low reading on the fuel flow gauge. In an attempt to restore power, the pilot switched the fuel source from the right tank back to the left, and then back to the right, but the engine failed to respond.
Facing a significant loss of altitude, the pilot executed a forced landing in bushy terrain located approximately 1.4km from the runway threshold. The aircraft touched down with full flaps and came to a stop within roughly 150 meters. There were no injuries among the five people on board.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of fuel management and the engine's failure to maintain power during the approach to Pietersburg. Investigators examined the fuel levels recorded during the pre-flight stage and the pilot's actions regarding tank switching during the flight leg.