Introduction
On September 17, 2002, a Piper PA-32-300 aircraft (registration ZS-FYP) was involved in an accident approximately 14 nautical miles northeast of Loskopdam, South Africa. The aircraft was operating under private flight rules, with a pilot-in-command holding a valid private pilot license and a total of 83 flying hours. Weather conditions were reported as fine.
Flight History
The pilot, accompanied by one passenger, departed Ermelo at 0815Z for a flight to Middelburg to pick up two additional passengers. The purpose of the flight was to conduct a scenic tour over a farm recently purchased by one of the passengers, located between the mountains near Loskopdam. After landing at Middelburg, the aircraft was refueled to capacity. At approximately 0900Z, the aircraft departed Middelburg with the pilot and three passengers onboard.
Accident Sequence
According to a passenger seated in the back, the flight lasted approximately 15 minutes before they proceeded toward the farm. The aircraft was flying at a low altitude. The pilot remarked to the front-seat passenger that he could not fly any slower, to which the passenger replied that he could see everything perfectly. Shortly afterward, the pilot cried out twice that they were not going to make it. The aircraft then struck the ground, caught fire, and skidded a short distance.
Injuries and Aftermath
All four occupants were able to escape from the burning wreckage but sustained serious burn injuries. Assistance was summoned using a cellular phone, and the occupants were admitted to a hospital. The farm owner, one of the passengers, did not survive the accident and passed away the following day in the hospital. The accident resulted in three injured and one fatality, as stated in the official report.
Probable Cause
The official accident report determined that the pilot allowed the aircraft to end up on the wrong side of the drag curve, subjecting it to excessive induced drag. This caused the airspeed to decay and the aircraft to descend, ultimately colliding with the ground.