What happened
On 10 December 2002, a CESSNA 150J, registered ZS-TAC, departed from Runway 03 at Vereeniging aerodrome for a local flight. The aircraft was operated by a commercial pilot acting as an instructor, accompanied by a passenger holding a private pilot license. The intended route was toward the general flying training area located west of van der Bijl Park.
Prior to departure, the aircraft had been refueled with 30 liters of AVGAS 100LL, distributed as 15 liters in each tank. During the flight, the aircraft entered a spin. Witnesses on a nearby maize farm in the Holfontein district, approximately 19nm southwest of Vereeniging, observed the aircraft approaching from the east at a relatively high altitude. Observers noted the engine sound diminishing before the aircraft's nose dropped, initiating a spin. The aircraft completed several rotations before striking the ground. The impact resulted in two fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances leading to the impact, including the aircraft's fuel state and the flight path. The investigation reviewed statements from a fuel attendant regarding the refueling process, noting that the tanks were not filled to capacity. Eyewitness accounts were also analyzed to determine the nature of the aircraft's descent; while one witness reported a right-hand spin, another observed a left-hand spin. The investigation focused on the sequence of the aircraft's loss of control and the subsequent impact on the farm.