What happened
On 7 July 2005, a Cessna 188B, registered as ZS-OZA, was involved in an accident during a flight intended for pilot familiarization. The pilot, who had recently completed a conversion course on this aircraft type, was performing a series of touch-and-go landings at an aerodrome located roughly 3 km from his departure point. The flight was part of a mission to familiarize himself with the Umfolozi farm area in preparation for upcoming crop spraying operations. During the very first touch-and-go attempt, the pilot lost directional control, causing the aircraft to undergo a ground loop.
There were no fatalities and no injuries reported following the event. However, the aircraft suffered significant damage, specifically to the propeller, the left wing, and the right-hand main landing gear.
The investigation
Investigators examined the pilot's recent experience and the aircraft's maintenance history. It was established that the pilot had only been flying the specific aircraft type for approximately 5.25 hours, having completed his conversion training two weeks prior to the incident. The aircraft's maintenance records showed that the most recent Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI) had been completed on 6 June 2005, with only 26.2 airframe hours accumulated since that inspection.
Furthermore, the investigation confirmed that the maintenance organization responsible for the aircraft's upkeep held valid approval, and the operator held a valid Part 135 operating certificate at the time of the occurrence. The aircraft was also found to be in compliance with all relevant Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins.