What happened
On 20 April 2003, a PA23-250 aircraft, registration ZS-AMM, departed from a private aerodrome near Ellisras on a charter flight destined for FAGC. The flight was being conducted without an Air Operator Certificate. Shortly after takeoff, the right-hand nose baggage compartment opened. As the aircraft climbed to approximately 200 feet above ground level and the pilot initiated a left-hand turn, the nose dropped. The aircraft subsequently crashed into dense vegetation and was consumed by fire. All 5 occupants—the pilot and four passengers—sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the wreckage and the pilot's credentials. While the aircraft's engines and propellers showed no signs of mechanical failure, investigators noted that the pilot was flying with an expired medical certificate. The aircraft had undergone a mandatory periodic inspection only days prior to the accident. Analysis of the baggage door mechanism revealed that although the aircraft was compliant with Service Bulletin #604A, the door could be closed and locked without the locking tang actually engaging the handle. This allowed the compartment to open in flight, significantly altering the aircraft's flight characteristics.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot became distracted by the opening baggage door, leading to a failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during a turn.
- This loss of speed caused the aircraft to stall and enter an unrecoverable spin.
- The nose baggage compartment was not properly secured, as the locking mechanism failed to engage despite the handle being in the locked position.
- The flight was being operated as a commercial charter without the required Air Operator Certificate or passenger tickets.
- The pilot was not in possession of a valid medical certificate at the time of the occurrence.