What happened
On May 24, 2003, a CESSNA 182Q, registration ZS-KDT, departed George Aerodrome for a private cross-country flight. After nearly two hours in the air, the pilot returned to George for a landing on runway 29. While the aircraft was positioned on the right base leg at an altitude of roughly 800 feet, the engine ceased functioning. The pilot reported a sensation similar to running out of fuel and attempted to restore power by pumping the throttle, but the engine failed to respond.
With the fuel selector set to the right-hand tank, the pilot notified Air Traffic Control of the engine malfunction and the necessity of an immediate landing. To avoid obstacles including high-tension wires, a farmhouse, and tall trees, the pilot executed a forced landing in an open field. During the maneuver, the aircraft stalled about five feet above the ground, resulting in a hard impact that broke the nose wheel and damaged the propeller. The aircraft skidded for about 20 meters before stopping. The pilot escaped the incident with only minor bruises.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the pilot's actions during the descent. The investigation focused on the engine's performance, the fuel system configuration, and the application of vital procedures during the approach phase of the flight.